Throwing the Shoe at Weddings
The custom of throwing the shoe after a bride when she leaves the paren* tal roof after the marriage ceremony, which still prevails in Britain, seems t<y have been handed down from a custom described in the Book of .Ruth, iv , 7 I " Now this was the manner in former time in Israel eoncerninr redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm alt things ; a man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbour ; and this was a testimonjr inlcrael.'' Ji was a resignation of interest m the property. The Targum instead of shoe, saya righthanded glove, and this may be the reason, why th» parents of the bride usually furnish the gloves worn on the occasion of weddings. The giving of gloved in mediaral times was a ceremony of investiture to lands and dignities, and a pair of gloves was a common render of §m t ■. andserviceorquiterent, for lands Castell mentions that the Emperor »f theAbytsinians used the casting of the shoe as Ui». sign of dominion. The same custom is mentioned in Psalm ix., 8, Edom will I east out my shoe 1 '; i.e^ "J will part with her. gave her Tip, abandon her."' IHe parental dominion over the bride ir - thus abandoned to her husband. Hence it is the last ceremony on her quitting the paternal- mansion. ----- .;■-...
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Bibliographic details
Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 123, 23 April 1889, Page 2
Word Count
226Throwing the Shoe at Weddings Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 123, 23 April 1889, Page 2
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