Customary Traditions for Brides-To-Be in Asia
The history of medieval fashion dates back from 1066 and was highly influenced by the Royalty era. This is the time where Kings and Queens usually ruled the land. The upper class individuals were deemed as the only ones who could dress fashionably. Then there was this Sumptuary Law passed by King Edward III stating that only royalty were allowed to wear gold cloth and purple silk. Women from the lower class were banned from wearing expensive veils. Velvet, satin sable or ermine were only allowed to be worn by wives and children of the nobles.
The medieval trends changed with the reign of each king and queen. A lot of crusades had happened during this time and it greatly affected fashion. Silks, satins, damasks, velvets and brocades were already imported from the Far East at this time. Fashion in France, Spain and Italy had strongly influenced the fashion trends of Medieval England.
Medieval dresses also played a big role in society. There are many different types of dresses in this era. There is the princess dress, lady in waiting dress and much more. Another popular but most often overlook medieval clothing is the Lady Hunter Dress. The Lady Hunter Dress is usually worn when a lady goes hunting with the men in the woods. It is often worn with chemises and accessories such as a crown, jewels, purse, and sometimes with a sword. Thigh-high boots are recommended to be paired with this dress.
Perhaps people are wondering why this dress is called "Lady Hunter Dress". The wearer perfectly knows that this dress matches the hounds and the horse she has and completes her look. It makes the character projected more expressive and complete. The wearer would feel she is well equipped when going to the woodlands with this outfit.
The lady hunter dress is made of natural cotton. It has lacings on the sides and the sleeves are fitted well. It allows having light size adjustments easily. There are fine trimmings on the neck, sleeves, bottom and the belt which completes the perfect look. You could have a trimmed fabric belt used as an additional accessory. Sometimes this dress is worn with a bodice vest or pereline. The bodice is made of natural red flax material with beautiful lace silk trimmings on the side.
The lady hunter dress will suit both the young lady from any medieval European country or the heroine from the fantasy stories that we often read about. The only difference that can be seen is the headpiece. The lady from the medieval period can wear a headdress while the heroine can wear a striking crown or headpiece.
Regardless of the purpose of the lady hunter dress, women who donned this kind of medieval clothing still managed to wear it gracefully amidst the very rough terrain and conditions that they had to contend with. Similar to modern day outdoor wear for both men and women, the Lady Hunter Dress focuses on form and function which probably at that period was the reason why most females, especially from the middle and lower class, preferred to wear them compared to their usual line of clothing or apparel.
Asia is a land rich in literally thousands of cultures, all of which have their own traditions-especially when it comes to weddings. Each country, from Indonesia to Japan, Thailand to Korea all have customs and traditions each unique ad their own. Asia's land mass is surrounded by oceans and mountains, making it breathtakingly beautiful, no matter where you are. Asian marriage traditions are also as unique as the landscape. They don't simply connect the bride to the groom, but family to family. Wedding traditions in Asia are as varied as the many cultures and countries that make up the continent.
Let's look at 5 customary traditions for brides-to-be in Asia.
1. In Japan, many brides wear kimonos embroidered with purple flowers because purple represents love. Most ceremonies are in the Shinto religion where the natural spirits are asked to bless the couple's union. In traditional Buddhist ceremonies, a beaded string is braided together which symbolizes the two families becoming one.
2. In countries like India that have a Hindu culture, it's bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding and couples go to great lengths to avoid each other for days leading up to the ceremony. During the marriage service itself, it's tradition for the bride's parents to wash the feet of the bride and groom in milk and water. This is a symbolic act of purification to prepare the newlyweds for their life together. The couple will also hold items in their hands while the ceremony goes on - grains of rice, oats, and leaves, which stand for wealth, health, and happiness.
3. Gowns worn by Chinese brides are not white. Chinese believe that white symbolizes death. So, brides in this Asian country wear vivid red which is thought to bring luck to the newlywed. In addition to the bride wearing red, she will also typically have designs in her gown depicting phoenixes and flowers to symbolize wealth and fortune. The Chinese groom will don a black silk coat over an embroidered robe with a dragon on it. Firecrackers are set off during the wedding to ward off any evil spirits. Afterwards, expect a feast of roasted pig, a gift from the groom's family.
4. Back in the days in the Philippines, an intended groom would throw a large spear onto the front of the bride's house to show that she belonged to him. Today, the Filipinos stick to the more western tradition of a gold engagement ring. Although most Filipinos are of the Catholic religion now, some still follow traditions of old where the wedding lasts three day, with the couple declaring their love for each other each day and then finally being bound together with a chord to symbolize the final rite of marriage.
5. In Korea, they go all out on the wedding festivities. Oftentimes, a palm reader or fortune teller will be hired to gaze into the couple's future before they actually take their vows in order to see if they will live happily ever after. Because Korean weddings are so expensive and extravagant, they really want to make sure it's forever before signing the check for the party.
