Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold
The traditional marriage ceremony in Western Culture ends with the bride carried over the threshold by the husband. How many modern couples realize that this ancient custom symbolizes rape and the unwilling capture of women for breeding purposes.
The myth of the founding of ancient Rome included the so-called "Rape of the Sabine Women" where women from a neighboring community were forcibly captured and forced to join the nascent Roman polity. These women were not, according to tradition, given any choice in the matter, but were the founding women of Rome's aristocricy.
The custom of carrying the bride over the threshold dates back to this ancient Roman myth. It is meant to symbolize the UNWILLINGNESS of the woman in the marriage. To quote from the Chronicle of the Roman Republic by Philip Matyszak:
To symbolize the fact that their first brides did not come willingly, later Roman men carried their brides into their new homes--a tradition continued in Western countries today.
I bet few couples today who participate in this ancient custom realize that the symbolism is the unwillingness and rape of the women forced (according to legend) to participate in the founding of ancient Rome.
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ancient Rome | Marriage | Sexism
Sadly
Submitted by mole333 on 1 June 2008 - 9:31am.
Sadly rape has been a part of many cultures for much of history. Even today some fundamentalist nations still blame the woman more than the man (see some of Leo Igwe's stuff on Culture Kitchen about what happens in Nigera, e.g. this diary).
The fact that rape has been such a part of history doesn't mean it is acceptable, of course. Slavery has also been part of most cultures through history and yet we are getting beyond that particular atrocity. Genocide used to be acceptable as well.
I can say that my wife and I crossed the threshold together and willingly.
Another fine custom...
brought to you by patriarchy. "god" recommends the same method of finding wives to the Jews in the Old Testament. It's disgusting. I've never heard this before, but it makes sense and I'll certainly be spreading the word to my readers. It's important to get rid of all aspects of the rape culture.