The History of Throwing Rice at Weddings
There
are many wedding customs and traditions throughout the world but we do
many of these things because they are customary without really
understanding what they mean or where they come from. One of those
traditions is throwing rice at the newlyweds as they run the gauntlet of
guests. The history and meaning of using rice or grain dates back to
the ancient Hebrew, Assyrian, and Egyptian societies where the throwing
of food items over the newlyweds was symbolic of fertility.
Food was a natural product to throw because it was meant to give the newlyweds good luck and a hope for prosperity. Seeds
or nuts were often thrown as a symbol of fertility since the small seed
grows into a larger plant. Wheat and rice were symbols of prosperity to
wish the newlyweds abundance and healthy children to help work the
land. Italy throws sugared nuts and sweets (the word confetti comes from
the Italian word for confection). Some European countries
throw eggs, others throw wheat. Moroccans throw raisins and dates to
wish a fruitful union for the newlyweds.
Rice became the popular item in the United States
to wish prosperity and luck on newlyweds and was a common part of
traditional weddings. Birdseed has widely replaced rice due
to a widespread urban myth that rice is harmful to birds. The myth
states that birds eat the rice and then explode because the rice swells
when they ingest it. This legend is not true and has been debunked by
ornithologists and bird watchers. Uncooked rice has no negative effects on birds; in fact they have been known to eat it in the wild.
| The main danger of using rice (or birdseed for that matter) is to the wedding guests who can slip and fall if the items are thrown on hard surfaces. Out of concern over possible lawsuits, some places have banned the tossing of rice or seed. Some trends are flower petals, sunflower seeds or fall leaves. Whether you are the thrower or you are being thrown at now you know what the act symbolizes regardless of the actual product used in the ceremony. |
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