June Weddings – Part 5: The Contemporary Wedding & Final Thoughts

Ah! June!

It is a lovely month, don’t you think?

What better month to reflect on the modern wedding ceremony than now?

In parts 1-4, we heard ancient whispers from Juno in our ear about ancient Roman wedding ceremonies. We could almost taste the spelt cake the bride and groom fed each other during the ceremony. Then, we heard the loud shout of the decree announcing Christianity as the Roman Empire’s official religion. Hence, faith shifted from inward to a more personal God.

Today, we contemplate wedding traditions through the lens of Juno.

Do you know a June bride?

It is an amazing time of the year to tie the knot. In New Jersey, June is typically a warm month, but not so hot to work up a sweat. The first wedding I attended in June was a beautiful sunny day with a nice breeze. The second wedding I attended was one of the hottest days in June on record. Beads of sweat dripped down my neck all the way down my spine. It was THAT hot and humid.

The Unity Candle

Modern-day weddings may include a candle-lighting ceremony where there are three candles. One represents the bride, the other represents the groom, and the center candle represents God. The couple lights their candles and then lights the center candle together. This signifies two lives joining as one, with God as the head of the household, much like Juno.

The Timeless Influence of Juno

Over the past few posts, we have seen how contemporary wedding rituals and traditions date back to the ancient Roman Empire and some even further.From June wedding dates to wedding cakes, the modern-day marriage ceremony honors a tradition that dates back millennia. The symbolism of unity, prosperity, and divine blessing continues to be central to wedding ceremonies worldwide.

As we trace the evolution of these traditions from ancient Rome’s pagan practices to the early Christian era and contemporary society, we see a remarkable continuity. The sacredness of marriage, the involvement of close family and friends, and the desire for divine blessing are themes that resonate across time and cultures.

By understanding our wedding customs’ historical and cultural roots, we can appreciate their richness and depth. Juno’s influence on weddings is a testament to the timeless nature of human beliefs and practices, which continue to shape and enrich our lives today.

Tell us your wedding traditions. We’d love to hear them.

#June, #Juno, #Weddings, #Tradition, #Christianity, #AncientRome, #Love

June Weddings – Part 4: The Christianization of Roman Wedding Traditions

Ah! June!

It is a lovely month, don’t you think?

A time to connect the dots between Ancient Rome and our modern-day wedding ceremony.

In parts 1-2, we saw how the goddess Juno influenced weddings in Ancient Rome. Part 3 discussed the faith shift from multiple gods to a single triune God.

Here, we will hear the echos of Juno, which are still heard across wedding venues near and far.

Blending of Traditions

Christianity reinterpreted or replaced many of the ancient wedding traditions. Let’s look at a few.

Sanctification of Marriage

The early Christian Church viewed marriage as a sacred covenant. For new Christians, the sacred covenant transitioned from Juno to God. Wedding ceremonies included Christian prayers, blessings, and the presence of clergy.

June Weddings

In Part 1, we learned how the calendar month of June derived from Juno. Hence, it was a favorite month to marry. The Church continued this tradition and endorsed June weddings.

Wedding Attendants

The role of the “pronuba” paved the way for bridesmaids and groomsmen. Wedding attendants were and still are supportive figures for the bride and groom. Just like the ancient pronuba. This tradition is an example of how an ancient tradition was redefined. It morphed into the tradition of involving close friends and family in the ceremony.

*An elaborate gold and onyx Roman wedding ring from the 3rd century. (Argyor)*
*Image Source: ancientorigins dot net*

Wedding Rings

Wedding rings date back to the Egyptians, 3000 BC. Even then, rings symbolized eternal love and commitment, but not in the way they are today.

The Romans continued the tradition of the wedding ring. But the groom often gave the ring to the bride’s father, as it served as a sign of a bride purchase.

By the second century BC, the bride was given a gold ring to indicate the groom’s trust in her as his property. In ancient Rome, brides were given two rings. One was gold. The other iron. The gold ring was worn for social engagements, and the iron ring was worn at home.

Bridal Veil

The bride’s veil, however, had a deeper, darker meaning. It was designed to ward off evil spirits. Today, the modern-day bride can choose to wear one or none. The veil came to be a covering to prevent the groom from seeing the bride until the exchange of vows.

The Wedding Cake

Over the years, the spelt cake eaten during the wedding ceremony gradually became one of the highlights of the modern-day wedding reception. Namely, the wedding cake. Most brides and grooms feed each other a piece of cake in front of family and friends. Did you know this tradition started in Ancient Rome?

Part 5 will wrap up this series. We will discover more themes linking ancient customs to contemporary weddings.

#Marriage, #June, #Juno, #Weddings, #Tradition, #Christianity, #AncientRome

June Weddings – Part 2: Ancient Traditions

Ah! June!

It is a lovely month, don’t you think?

And perhaps a magical time for a bride and groom to pledge their love to one another amongst family and friends.

In Part 1, we talked about June, which dates back to the Roman Empire and how Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, inspired its popularity among couples wanting to tie the knot.

In this post, we will dig deeper into the role Juno played in the traditional ancient wedding.

Ancient Wedding Traditions

Image Credit: Public Domain – A Roman Wedding Procession by Edwine Howland Blashfield

Roman weddings, like those of the affluent of our day, were elaborate ceremonies with religious rituals. They centered around worshipping Juno, the goddess of marriage. The bride and groom did so in order to receive a blessing from Juno for their marriage. This included sacrifices, prayers, and customs thought to cement the couple’s future and to bring happiness and prosperity.

Let’s look at specific examples.

Choosing the Wedding Date

June was the most popular month for Roman weddings. And Juno had a lot to do with that. Even so, brides and grooms could consider other months as well. But they were always based on lunar cycles.

The Confarreatio Ceremony

The most sacred Roman wedding was called the “confarreatio.” A significant part of this ritual involved the couple sharing a spelt cake (panis farreus). The cake symbolized unity and abundance. It was a solemn pledge to Juno and to each other.

Nuptial Rites and Sacrifices

Before the wedding ceremony, the couple offered cakes, wine, and incense to Juno while the Priests recited prayers. These practices further emphasized Juno’s central role in the wedding ceremony. These offerings were believed to purify and bless the union.

The Bridal Procession

After the ceremony, a procession would lead the bride to her new home, where nuts and coins lined the path. These symbolized fertility and prosperity. As the procession made its way through town, they stopped at shrines and offered prayers to Juno. Further confirming Juno’s protection over the marriage.

The Pronuba

Like the modern-day maid or matron of honor, the “pronuba” was a married woman. The pronuba assisted the bride before, during, and after the wedding ceremony. As a representative of Juno’s, she embodied the ideals of marital fidelity and longevity. Her role was to guide the bride through the wedding rituals. It was no wonder that the pronuba ensured tradition was followed.

Legacy of Time

There is no doubt that the goddess Juno played a pivotal role in ancient wedding ceremonies. It underscored the profound cultural significance and importance of marriage in Roman society. Such customs highlighted how entwined Juno was in the institution of marriage.

Part 3 will explore the transformation from Juno’s central role in the wedding ceremony to the sacred vows before the God of Christianity.

#Love #June #Juno #Weddings #Traditions

June Weddings – Part 1: The Origin

Ah! June!

It is a lovely month, don’t you think?

And a favorite time to get married – at least, in 2015.

Fast-forward to 2023, and June falls to number three, according to a recent post on Brides.com. For the curious-minded, October was number one, followed by September.

*Credit: Illustration of the Roman goddess Juno by Samantha C. George*

Juno? Who was Juno?

June is also the month named for Juno, one the Romans most popular goddesses.

Over the next few blog posts, we will learn how Juno influenced the modern-day wedding. But first, we start with how “June” became the sixth month of the calendar we still use today.

The Month of June

So, how did “June” become the sixth month of our calendar?

June is named after the Roman goddess Juno, the god of marriage and childbirth. She was the wife of Jupiter, the king of the gods.

June, the sixth month of the Julian calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BCE. It was on this date that June’s 29 days changed to 30 days, as per timeanddate.com.

Juno: The Goddess of Marriage

In Roman mythology, Juno was the queen of the gods and the protector of women and marriage. Her Greek counterpart was Hera.

Juno oversaw all aspects of women’s lives, from birth to marriage and family. As the goddess of marriage, Juno blessed and protected couples. So, those seeking her blessing did so to gain favor amongst the gods so that their marriages would have a higher probability of working out.

The popularity of June weddings dates back to ancient Rome. Marrying in June was believed to honor Juno. Which is why couples leaned toward June. After all, they thought that Juno brought harmony and prosperity to the marriage.

Legacy of Time

June weddings are a testament to the legacy of these ancient beliefs. Even though many modern-day couples choose to marry in June, they may not realize they’re following a tradition that dates back millennia.

In Part 2 of this series, we will continue to explore how Juno influenced the modern-day wedding.

#June #Juno #Weddings #Traditions