Tradition Tuesday: El Lazo (Lasso)

Throughout the ages, the marriage ceremony has always been a fertile bed for the seeds of superstition and changing customs. These seeds still thrive among some faith based traditions like El Lazo (Lasso). This tradition is usually performed within Hispanic and Filipino families and is associated with a wedding prayer during the ceremony.

The symbolism of the Lazo (Lasso) is to show the union and protection of marriage.

Lazo (sometimes called, "lasso") or rope is placed around the bride and groom's shoulders (groom's shoulder's first) in the form of an "8" (the infinity symbol) - after they have exchanged their vows - to symbolize their everlasting union. This is usually done by the officiant/priest, however, family members can also take part in this ritual. The couple wears the lazo (lasso) throughout the remainder of the ceremony.

The Lazo (Lasso) is sometimes made of rosary beads, white ribbon, flowers, fabric, silver, crystal or elaborately painted wood. It can also be placed around the couple's necks, or wrists. If the couple has children; they may also be included as they will definitely be a part of the new family.

After the prayer and before either attempts to rise, at the end of the ceremony, the lazo(lasso) is removed by the same people who put it on and given to the bride as a memento of her becoming the mistress of the groom's heart and home and shows their promise to always be together side-by-side.

The Unity Candle

The lighting of a unity candle is performed to symbolize the pledge of unity between the bride and groom, the merging of two families, and their love for the bride and groom.

More often it is to symbolize the union of two individuals, becoming one in commitment. The popular explanation is that the taper candles are lit by representatives from each family (usually the mothers of the bride and groom) to symbolize the love and allegiance that each family has for either the bride or the groom. As the bride and groom use these two flames to light the unity candle (usually after formal vows), they bring the love of both families together in a united love of the new couple. Generally, the two tapers are left burning and replaced in their holders (because each family's love for their own will continue). However, in some ceremonies they may blow out their individual candles to symbolize the extinguishing of their two single lives.

Shown Personalized Unity Candle by For Your Event Planning

Often the unity candle is personalized complementing the wedding invitation, with the couple's monogram, or other ornamentation; crystals, ribbon etc... The candles are almost always white or ivory. The lighting ceremony may be accompanied by special music, an explanation of the symbolism, or just some period of mutual gazing by the happy couple. In some circles, it is customary for the couple to save the unity candle and relight it on anniversaries.

Tip: Make sure that there aren't any decorative beads, ribbon or lace around the flame of the candles - they can easily catch fire. Consider pre-lighting the taper candles and the Unity candle to make them easier to light in outdoor ceremonies. If your ceremony is outdoors, always have several extra lighters nearby in case the wind decides to blow the candles out and/or try putting the Unity Candle inside a glass hurricane lamp can be very helpful in protecting from the wind/breeze.

Wedding Traditions / Sixpence in your shoe

Most know the wedding verse "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," but they may not know the original ending... "and a lucky sixpence in your shoe."

This rhyme originated in victorian times when the bride wore a sixpence in her shoe on her wedding day. This tradition ensured financial prosperity and a wealth of happiness for the bride and groom throughout their married life. The sixpence reference was used less over time as the sixpence became a rare coin.

The sixpence is an English coin first minted in the reign of Edward VI, it has been associated with weddings since the reign of Elizabeth I when in those times the Lord of the Manor where the bride lived would often present a sixpence as a wedding gift.

Toward the end of the seventeenth century, the tradition changed and it became the custom for the bride's parent to give the coin as a gift. It was not however until Victorian times that the present day custom evolved to that of giving a sixpence as a lucky charm to bring wealth and happiness to the married couple. As time went on the custom of using the sixpence as a good luck continued into the 1800's.

"...when the bride is completely ready to make her way from her home, she would take the sixpence from the bag on her garter and place it in her left shoe. She would walk a full circle and at the same time make a wish for her wealth. She would then take the sixpence out of the shoe and replace it in the bag. She must never look back but continue to walk through the door to marry her husband-to-be ..."

A lucky sixpence in a bride's shoe is a famous old good luck wedding tradition. Today, most brides who want to follow the “something old, something new and a sixpence in your shoe” tradition simply use a penny or another coin as a symbol of the sixpence. The Sixpense should be placed in the brides left shoe or slipper on her wedding day, as a symbol of love, happiness and Good Luck.

Other traditions to implement with your sixpence:

1. The bridal sixpence can be placed in the wedding album after the wedding and kept intact to be passed down to daughters and/or daughters-in-law to wear on their own special wedding day.

2. Choose a sixpence minted in the year of a parent or grandparent's birth or wedding anniversary as a special tribute to that person/persons.

Are you planning on sticking a sixpence in your shoe? Or maybe you recently got married and included this tradition in your special day? I'd love to hear some reader's thoughts on this?

Wedding Traditions / Bridal Bouquet

…Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue … Ever wonder where wedding traditions come from and why they are wedding traditions?

Unsure which wedding tradition to incorporate into your wedding?

Does your family have an interesting wedding tradition? Share your wedding tradition with us. Leave a comment with your wedding tradition or email it to us at info@foryoureventplanning.com and we'll make sure to post it on our blog.

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Bridal Bouquet Tradition

Most brides today carry flowers because they are beautiful and it gives the nervous bride something to do with her hands. However, the carrying of flowers goes back as far as the beginning of marriage. Rooted in superstition, it was thought bridal bouquets consisting of odoriferous herbs and garlands worn or carried would ward off demons and evil spirits. Variations of this superstition are found in many cultures throughout the world.

In India the bride and groom are sprinkled with flower petals to ward of evil. It is said that a Roman bride carried herbs such as rosemary in her veil to ward off evil spirits. In fact, the modern tradition of carrying flowers and herbs in the bridal bouquet stems from this Roman practice. With many cultures sharing their wedding traditions over the centuries, the primitive superstition of smelly garlands went by the wayside. Brides began to use flowers as a way to symbolize emotion, virtue of love and marriage transforming the tradition.

Flowers such as roses became symbols of love for western weddings. Herbs and flowers were mixed together as a symbolic gesture. Over the years, wedding traditions have been manipulated blending old tradition with contemporary ideals. Old Greek wedding traditions used ivy and ribbons; weaving them into crowns for the bride and groom to symbolize unity. This tradition of greenery and ribbons has been incorporated in many modern wedding bouquets. In fact, it is commonplace to see bridal bouquets with greenery and ribbons intertwined in the flowers.

Although wedding flowers are a long standing tradition, the use flowers has become more of a tradition of elegance than one of warding off demons. Thankfully the tradition changed and flowers are now used to decorate the wedding. The bride can now carry a bouquet for beauty and not as protection from evil spirits.

Traditions: The Ring Finger...why?

The ring finger is the fourth digit of the human hand, and the second most ulnar finger, located between the middle finger and the little finger. It is also called digitus medicinalis, the third finger, digitus annularis, digitus quartus, or digitus IV in anatomy.

During the 3rd century in Greece, the ring finger was the index finger.

In India it was the thumb.

The Egyptians believed that a special vein, which they called a "vena amoris" or vein of love, ran from the third finger on the left hand, directly to the heart. By putting on a fitted ring, the affections were bound in and could never flow out the fingertips. Also, this finger although not the smallest on the hand is the weakest and most dependent on the others for help in lifting and holding. It seemed to symbolise the young wife supported by the strength of her husband.
The "ring" finger has sometimes been on the left hand, sometimes on the right, according to country and custom. Among English-speaking christians, it has been on the left since the edict of Edward VI in 1549.

For this reason, the fourth finger of the left hand has been adopted through the ages as the ideal place for the wedding ring.

Here's a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese:

The thumb represents your parents.

The second finger/index finger represents your siblings.

The middle finger represents yourself.

The fourth finger/ring finger represents your life partner.

The little finger represents your children.

First, open your palms, face to face. Bend the middle fingers and hold them together, back to back. Second, take the rest of your fingers and thumb and place them tip to tip.

Now, try and separate your thumbs which represent your parents, they will open. Your parents are not destined to live with you for the rest of your lives. They will leave you sooner or later. Join your thumbs as before.

Now take and separate your index fingers representing your siblings. They will also open. Your brothers an sister will make their own families and will lead their own separate lives. Now join your index fingers again.

Now separate you little fingers representing your children. They will open too. Your children will grow up, settle down and begin on their own family someday. Now bring your little fingers together.

Finally, try and separate your ring fingers which represent your spouse. You will be surprised to see that you cannot separate them, because husband and wife are meant to be together all their lives, through thick and thin.

Cool, right?