The Road to Marriage: A Glimpse Into the Engagement Traditions From the Past

Marriage has played a valuable role in human societies for millennia. Every culture has different rituals, but the idea behind them is the same.

Engagement Traditions From the Past

In Western societies, it has been customary for generations to organize weddings so both the couple and their families become closely acquainted before the marriage, but the road to the big day looks a little different from its historic counterparts.

Engagement Rings

When they head out to find the perfect Engagement Rings Columbus, residents rarely realize they are participating in a centuries-old tradition. The first use of engagement rings dates back to around 2,000 BC in ancient Egypt. At that time, people carved plants into rings, but the meaning was the same. The circle shape was meant to symbolize eternity and the immortality of love.

Ancient Romans preferred iron rings, but that wasn’t the only change they made to engagement and wedding traditions. In ancient Rome, only women wore engagement rings. They still wore them on the fourth finger of the left hand because, at that time, people believed the vein in this finger led straight to the heart.

Over time, people began to make rings out of more precious metals. However, the now-ubiquitous diamond engagement rings weren’t popularized until 1477 when the Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the first one on record.

Engagement Ceremonies

According to tradition, the bride’s family is supposed to cover all of the expenses associated with the engagement ceremony. Historically, this ceremony involved the presentation of two engagement rings tied together with a red ribbon to the bride and groom by a senior family member. That family member would place the rings on the couples’ fingers and cut the ribbon in a ritual ceremony.

Today, not all couples schedule engagement ceremonies, and those that do tend not to hold to the antiquated traditions regarding who paid for the ceremony and presented the ring. Some couples even plan their engagement ceremonies and weddings for the same day. For most, though, the period between agreeing to be married and the ceremony itself is still an important and exciting time.

Engagement Bundles

Historically, families prepared what were known as engagement bundles for each other. The purchasing of reciprocally given gifts was considered an important ritual, but it’s one that has largely fallen by the wayside. When engagement bundles are still exchanged, their contents vary based on the families and culture’s traditions. The bride’s bundle often includes items such as:

• A dressing gown or nightdress
• Lingerie
• Slippers and shoes
• A set of nice clothes
• Makeup and skincare supplies
• Perfume
• Bed linens
• Towels
• Scarves
• And more

The bride’s family also presented a similar package to the groom during the engagement ceremony, although the clothing and other supplies would be suited to the groom’s taste. In some cases, families also exchanged engagement bundles with each other.

Embrace Tradition

While most families no longer exchange engagement bundles, and plenty of couples choose to forgo engagement ceremonies altogether, there are some traditions that still hold fast and true today. The purchase and presentation of the engagement ring are some of the most important of them. Grooms on the hunt for the perfect ring should know they’re playing an essential role in keeping ancient traditions alive and well.