Page 38 - All About History - Issue 53-17

Through History

WEDDING DRESSES

From intricate gowns to elaborate headpieces, take a look at the traditional
wedding attire worn by brides from around the world and through the centuries

.The Roman wedding dress was
.designed to help protect the
ROMAN VEIL 800 BCE .bride from evil spirits
RED SARI .Indian weddings are
.typically a colourful affair, The wedding veil tradition is believed to date back
2800 BCE .with red being the most
.prevalent shade to ancient Rome, when brides would wear a flame-
For Indian weddings, it
coloured veil called a flammeum. Covering them
is typical for the bride, from head to toe, this piece of fabric was designed
and often the groom to ward off evil spirits, protecting the bride once
too, to wear red. This she had left the safety of her family home. The
is because in many dress itself was a simple white tunic tied around
eastern cultures the
the waist with a woolen belt. The bride’s mother
colour red symbolises would tie it using a Nodus Herculaneus knot,
auspiciousness and good intended to symbolise the virility of Hercules,
luck. It is also commonly and it could
associated with Durga, only be
one of the most revered Krugu untied by
goddesses in the Hindu Amoaya and her new
faith, and represents Watah Kraban husband.
UNKNOWN, GHANAIAN
her power and strength. According to Ashanti legend, kente It is
Depending on the cloth was created when the two farmers thought
region, the bride’s outfit came across the web of Ananse, a spider that this
will traditionally consist popular in Ghanaian mythology, while is where
hunting. They then rushed home to
of a red sari, a piece of recreate it out of fibers from the the phrase
fabric that is draped raffia tree and presented their ‘tying the
across the body, or a creation to the king. knot’ originates.
lehenga, a long skirt.

MEDIEVAL ROBES 1400
In medieval times, a marriage was
more of a union between two families
than two people, and so a bride was
encouraged to dress in a way that
would represent her family in the best
.The oldest known light. For the upper classes, expensive
.huipil dates back to fabrics, rich colours, flowing sleeves
.the 18th century, but and long trains helped show off the
.depictions appeared
.much earlier bride’s wealth and social status, while
lower class women simply wore the
best dress they had available. This was
typically their church outfit, which
could be of any colour or design.

HUIPIL PRE-1500 Queen
The huipil is a traditional garment worn by the indigenous women of Victoria
1819-1901, BRITISH
Mexico and other regions of Central America. The loose-fitting cap- Victoria’s white silk satin and lace
sleeved tunic is made from two or three rectangles of fabric woven on a gown bucked the trend in 1840, but
backstrap loom and stitched together with ribbons. Simple versions are soon became a western custom. She also
broke with royal tradition by wearing an
worn every day, but for ceremonial occasions such as weddings, intricate Green was a orange blossom wreath instead of a
embroidery is added. Each design typically holds sacred meaning for the popular wedding crown, and recycling the lace from
wearer, as it defines their home town, social status and wealth. The exact dress colour in her dress several times, including
medieval times
origin of the garment is unclear, as Mesomerican women have been as it represented for her Diamond Jubilee.
wearing it since long before the Spanish arrived in the region. fertility
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