Flower girl
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The phrase flower girl is commonly used to refer to a young female who scatters flower petals down the aisle during a wedding procession. However, the term can also be used to refer to girls who sell flowers, such as the fictional character Eliza Doolittle, or "Flower Seller Uniqua" (a character in the Backyardigans).[1] Finally, girls who have flower-related powers or themes, like Lun Lun the Flower Girl are also considered 'flower girls'.
For a wedding event, using a flower girl is optional; however, it is a traditional component.[citation needed]
In weddings
In a traditional wedding procession, flower girls are usually members of the bride or groom's extended families or a friend of either family. Flower girls are usually aged between 3 and 10 years old.[2] During the wedding procession, a flower girl walks down the aisle with her partner, who is usually the ring bearer or page boy.
Activities
A flower girl typically walks in front of the bride during the wedding processional and scatters flower petals on the floor before the bride walks down the aisle. However, some ceremony venues do not allow scattering of the petals.
Her outfit usually resembles a smaller version of the bride's wedding dress. Traditionally, a flower girl's clothing is provided by the families of the bride and groom. However, most couples today expect the parents of the flower girl to pay for her clothing and other expenses related to her participation.
Significance
Some couples may decide they want a flower girl in their wedding party to enhance the appeal of the aisle with flower petals. There is also some significance to the flower girls' role of leading the bride forward. The flower girl symbolizes the end of the bride's innocence and her transition into the roles of mother and wife.
The flower girl's youth contrasts with the bride's passage from childhood to the duties and roles expected of a mature woman. Often, the attire of the flower girl closely resembles the attire of the bride. This resemblance intensifies the contrast between childhood and adulthood.
During the ceremony, the flower girl proceeds down the aisle, immediately after the maid of honor, scattering flower petals along the bridal path. In most circumstances, she carries a basket full of flower petals, however, other alternatives include wrapped candies or confetti. Sometimes a single bloom, a pomander (a lush ball of flowers), or bubbles are substituted.
History
Centuries ago, couples often married for political reasons rather than to celebrate and seal their love. In some cultures, marriages were arranged by parents. In cases where an arranged marriage was organized by parents, the bride and groom did not meet before the nuptial ceremonies. Procreation was the primary purpose of arranged marriages; therefore, fertility was a great concern for the newlywed couple. To symbolize the blessings of fertility and prosperity for the bridal couple, flower girls carried sheaves of wheat and bouquets of herbs. In the U.S. modern age, historical fertility symbols are replaced by the flower girl carrying flowers or sprinkling flower petals ahead of the bride.
Roman empire
In the Roman Empire, flower girls were young virgins who carried a sheaf of wheat during the wedding ceremony. It was believed that this would bring prosperity to the bride and groom. Throughout the Renaissance, flower girls carried strands of garlic, based on the belief that garlic kept away evil spirits and bad luck.
Elizabethan era
During the Elizabethan era, wedding guests would scatter flower petals from the bride's home to the church.[3] Flower girls followed musicians in the wedding procession, carrying a gilded rosemary branch and a silver bride's cup adorned with ribbons. The cup was usually filled with flower petals or rosemary leaves as an alternative to a basket. Other alternatives included a small bunch of rosemary sprigs used as a sweet posy, or a small floral bouquet incorporating sprigs of fresh rosemary.[4]
Victorian era
The Victorian flower girl most resembles modern day flowers girls. Victorian era flower girls were traditionally dressed in white, with perhaps a sash of colored satin or silk. Her dress was likely made of muslin and intentionally left simple to allow for future use. The Victorian flower girl carried an ornate basket of fresh blooms or sometimes a floral hoop, the circular shape of the hoop echoing that of the wedding ring, symbolizing that true love has no end.[4]
Royal influences
In Western Europe, the tradition of having child attendants in weddings was not limited to the flower girl and ring bearer, but to the entire group of attendants in the wedding party. This tradition has carried forward to present times in many royal and society weddings, as well as in weddings around the world, where it is common to see multiple flower girls.[4]
Symbolism
The flower girl may symbolize the bride as a child in her innocence, as she is typically a young girl dressed similarly to the bride. She may also symbolize wishes for fertility for the couple and the forming of their new family.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Flower Power (episode)
- ^ Post, Peggy (2006). Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette (5th ed.). New York: Harper Collins. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-06-074504-5. OCLC 57613405.
- ^ Chesser, Barbara Jo (April 1980). "Analysis of Wedding Rituals: An Attempt to Make Weddings More Meaningful". Family Relations. 29 (2): 204–209. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
- ^ a b c "Wedding History 101: Flower Girl Customs & Traditions - The Brass Paperclip Project". Brasspaperclip.typepad.com. 2010-04-05. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
- ^ Kathy Merlock Jackson (2005). Rituals and Patterns in Children's Lives. Popular Press. pp. 142–148. ISBN 978-0-299-20830-1.
External links
- Innocent Flower Girl article on TV Tropes.