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The true origins of many wedding traditions are lost in the misty veils of time, but nuptials and flowers have gone together for centuries, perhaps millennia. Wearing a wreath of flowers or greenery during one's wedding dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. Just as Olympic champions were crowned with laurel wreaths, both brides and grooms were decked with beautiful flora. These fruitful garlands symbolized fertility. Many sources suggest that the bride's bouquet shares these ancient roots. In addition to wearing flowers on her head, the bride might carry a bunch of pungent herbs, the strong scent of which would ward off evil spirits and bad luck. Garlic, chives, and sage were popular bouquet blooms for this reason. Dill, thought to increase sexual desire, was sometimes included. Flowers and herbs continued to be a part of wedding ceremonies throughout the ages. Rosemary symbolized remembrance and fidelity in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. In
China, orange blossoms meant both innocence and fertility. This custom made its way to Spain, where brides began to carry orange-blossom bouquets. When Britain's Queen Victoria wore orange blossoms at her wedding in 1840, the flower became permanently linked with brides. The Victorians assigned complex meanings to each flower and herb, so a bride had to be careful what she included in her bouquet. Basil meant hatred, and various colors of carnations indicated refusal and disdain. But a bunch of white roses, still a popular choice to this
day, declared a worthy bride.
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