Where Did The Tradition Of Tying Shoes To The Bridal Vehicle Come From?
Some people believe the tradition stems from the Egyptians. It is said that Egyptians once exchanged sandals after exchanging goods. As a result, it is thought that the father would give the groom his daughter’s sandals (bride’s shoes), symbolizing that they were the grooms property now.
Another idea of shoes and wedding traditions comes from the bible. In Ruth 4:7 it states that ; Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.
Both ideas show how shoes can be part of commitment to a contract. Incorporating shoes into the tradition of weddings seems natural, since wedding vows and ceremonies are contracts of commitments between a bride and groom. But how did the old tradition turn to shoes being tied to bumpers?
During the Anglo-Saxon years( 5th century), people took to throwing shoes at the bride and groom as a way to wish them luck on their journey, as well as fertility. It could be that maybe, just maybe, someone threw a shoe just a bit to hard and bit to precise. Possibly knocking either the bride or groom out thus resulting in a change of tradition at the next wedding. Instead of throwing shoes, they tied them to the carriage. After all the point of a tradition is merely symbolization. Tied shoes symbolizes the husband and wife being “tied” together (committed to one another) and tying baby shoes to the bumper certainly symbolizes fertility.
We can’t be certain of when the tradition changed; but even in today’s time, you will see many different countries still carrying on the “tying of the shoes” wedding tradition to the couples car.
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