Flowers, circles, vows.
The aspects of symbolism are everywhere in today's wedding traditions. This Sunday I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding. Here are the pagan traditions I noticed.
First, the definition of Pagan from Wikipedia
(from Latin paganus 'rural, rustic', later 'civilian') is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism,[1] or ethnic religions other than Christianity, Judaism, and Samaritanism. In the time of the Roman Empire, individuals fell into the pagan class either because they were increasingly rural and provincial relative to the Christian population, or because they were not milites Christi (soldiers of Christ).
The people getting married aren't Christians. So, I guess that makes them Pagans by the definition provided above.
They are both very connected with their garden. Most of the ceremony was quite traditional. Still, there were elements here and there that began to make me wonder about a mystical meanings to all these signs.
The waxing half moon in the sky, for example.
And once I was handed my bouquet, I couldn't help but delve into the herblore.
Here is the bride handing us each our bouquet just before walking down the aisle with our assigned groomsmen. I noticed the feverfew flowers right away. In herbalism I use them for migraines and seasonal allergies. Seeing the herbs used in a bouquet made me wonder about the mystical meaning of feverfew flowers. This is what Flying the Hedge had to say:
And the yellow flowers are goldenrod which I saw growing all over the city and along trails. It is an herb of sunshine, and summer. Over the years I have used it in magic because it grows in South America too. I love the symbolism of harnessing the sun's power in spell work.
So, of course I am hoping that the herblore of these two enchanted flowers aids to the couple's love & happiness.
More on the waxing half moon tommorow!