Why Do Brides Carry Flowers?
It has long been a tradition for a bride to carry a bouquet of flowers on her wedding day. Although many brides accept this tradition readily, the history of the tradition is often unknown. Contemporary brides continue to carry flowers on their wedding days for numerous reasons.HistoryThe original tradition of carrying flowers on the wedding day stems back to the 15th century, when women only took one bath per year. Although most brides set their wedding dates within just one month of their baths, it became common for brides to carry fresh flowers on their wedding days to cover any body odor that may be present.SignificancePlants and flowers carried many spiritual connotations during the early centuries. In a time when demons were feared, brides carried elaborate garlands made of herbs and spices on their wedding days to ward off evil spirits.Emotional TiesAs the tradition became more common, flowers began to assume a variety of emotional meanings as well. For example, roses stood for
