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Weird Origins of Wedding Traditions
Wedding

8 Weird Origins of Wedding Traditions

No matter how beautiful and romantic weddings are, they are still a legal contract.
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No matter how beautiful and romantic weddings are, they are still a legal contract. Many of the wedding traditions we've come to associate love, friendship, and fun with have very practical — and even horrifying — roots. Find out what came from where below:

  • Wedding announcements: The Catholic tradition of "posting the banns" required a couple to announce their wedding in print; this helped ensure they were not related.
  • Fathers walking brides down the aisle: Because weddings used to be business transactions, fathers walked brides down the aisle to transfer ownership to grooms. Romantic!
  • Bachelor parties: Originally held by Spartan soldiers, bachelor parities were wild fetes to kiss the single life goodbye.
  • Best man: "Best" used to refer less to the friendship quality and more to the man's sword skills. Because you can never have enough backup support for a runaway bride.
  • Ceremony: The bride stands to the left during Christian wedding ceremonies, because the groom needed to be ready to fight off suitors with his right hand.
  • Ring placement: Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, because ancient Greeks and Romans believed that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
  • Tying the knot: The phrase is derived from the literal practice of tying couples together to symbolize the commitment of marriage.
  • Tossing bouquets: Newlyweds used to go in another room to seal the deal immediately after the wedding ceremony. Guests hung around outside to ensure the marriage transaction was completed, but men used to grab at the bride as she walked with her groom. So one inventive bride threw her bouquet to create a distraction, and other brides followed suit.
Photo by Carlie Statsky Photography via Style Me Pretty
Cannes Film Festival History
nostalgia

The Eccentric History of the Cannes Film Festival

Camera flashes, flashed bare chests, and flashy screen sirens give the Cannes Film Festival some of its je ne sais quoi, and that's why it's one of our favorite film fests.
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Camera flashes, flashed bare chests, and flashy screen sirens give the Cannes Film Festival some of its je ne sais quoi, and that's why it's one of our favorite film fests. After a rocky start (it was initially set to start in 1939 but was postponed due to World War II), the inaugural Cannes took place more than 65 years ago on Sept. 20, 1946, making it one of the oldest film festivals to date. What began as a stand against Fascist and Nazi propaganda is now a prestigious, star-studded event. As this year's festivities continue, see some of the international film festival's milestones and most eccentric moments in pictures!

First Fest, 1946 Year of Changes, 1947 A Royal Engagement, 1955 Ladies' Man, 1962 Bella Donna, 1964 House Arrest, 1972 Pointing Fingers, 1972
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Hipster Culture History
women

Been There, Done That: Is Hipster History?

Hipster haters, unite: apparently 27 percent of Americans think hipsters should pay a tax for being "so annoying."
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Hipster haters, unite: apparently 27 percent of Americans think hipsters should pay a tax for being "so annoying." Public Policy Polling also found that 42 percent have an unfavorable opinion of hipsters. And with the negative stereotype the subculture carries, it's no wonder even hipsters hate hipsters. These recent poll results may be a sign that we're reaching a saturation point with the too-cool-for-school group. So as we maybe, possibly enter a new posthipster era, let's take a look back at hipster history.

Are You a Hipster? The Evolution of Hipster Style Did You Read . . . Hipster Ariel The Hipster Translator Hipsters Get Duped at Coachella Hipster Films
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Vintage Car Ads
Sex

How Real Mad Men Used Women to Sell Cars

Move over, Jaguar — Don Draper is trading in the British luxury car for the all-American Chevy.
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Move over, Jaguar — Don Draper is trading in the British luxury car for the all-American Chevy. On this week's episode of Mad Men, Don and Roger hit the road — or the friendly skies — for Detroit to pitch Chevy for the car of the future. Don wins the account, after teaming up with rival Teddy Chaough. The two decide to merge their ad agencies so they can compete with the big boys. And it's a good thing Don doesn't come back to NY empty-handed, since earlier in the episode he fired the agency's previous car client, Jaguar.

Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce (or whatever it will be called now) managed to win the Chevy account with less sketchy tactics than it used to win Jaguar. As we saw last season, throughout the process of vying for Jaguar, it's clear that the show's ad men have little respect for women. The creative team uses a mistress as its muse for the slogan — "Jaguar. At last. Something beautiful you can truly own" — comparing a woman to a car. Only the car is better than a woman because you can own it. And of course, the SCDP partners pull a more shocking move, conspiring to prostitute out their colleague Joan Harris to a higher-up at Jaguar to secure the account. Joan's sexual objectification provides a literal reference to how women were used to sell cars. The real 1960s Jaguar slogan, "A cat of a different breed," alluded to women, and subsequent taglines included, "Domesticated. Not Declawed." Or, "Nobody's Pussycat." The British carmaker wasn't alone. Copy on a '60s-era Ford ad, featuring a seductive-looking young woman in the passenger's seat, reads, "So luxurious inside, watch 'em overguess the price." Are they talking about the car or the woman?

Based on the glimpse of the Chevy pitch we see this week — a teaser campaign that draws on innocent anticipation of the unknown — Don might be taking a more wholesome approach. But looking at real Chevy ads from the era, women are still deployed as attention-grabbing accessories. Check out some 1960s car ads featuring women. I'd love to say we've come a long way, but just flip on the TV and you'll see that car ads featuring sexualized women aren't getting kicked to the curb any time soon.

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Vintage Prom Pictures
nostalgia

Turn Back Time With Prom Through the Decades

The American prom has come a long way since its inception in the late 1890s.
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The American prom has come a long way since its inception in the late 1890s. Prom, short for promenade, was first used to describe a simple college ball before gaining momentum and popularity as a high school dance. By the 1950s it had become more of the elaborate event it is today, with its prom courts, fancy cars, and expensive dresses — the glorified pinnacle of adolescence. I love looking at prom pics in old high school yearbooks, which range from awkward to awww. So take a look back with me at proms through the decades!

1930s 1950s 1950 1952 1957 1958 1958
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The History of Cinderella
nostalgia

From Folklore to Film: The History of Cinderella

Many of us know the Cinderella story thanks to Disney's popular animated film, but the fairy tale about a girl with a magical guardian dates all the way back to the first century.
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Many of us know the Cinderella story thanks to Disney's popular animated film, but the fairy tale about a girl with a magical guardian dates all the way back to the first century. Since then, several versions have popped up in literature, music, film, and TV, and now Downton Abbey's cousin Rose, actress Lily James, has been chosen to star in Kenneth Branagh's live-action version. Disney plans to release the film next year, and production is slated for this Fall. In the meantime, let's take a look at the evolution of Cinderella, from ancient Egypt to now.

Source: ABC, 20th Century Fox, and Disney
Rhodopis, First Century A.D. Yeh-Hsien, 860 A.D. Il Pentamerone, 1634-6 Histoires ou Contes du Temps Passé, 1697 Grimms' Fairy Tales, 1812 Cendrillon, 1895 Cinderella, 1899
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MLK Assassination Pictures
TV

Mad Men Flashback: The Reaction to MLK's Assassination

April 4, 1968, was a tragic day in America, as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.
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April 4, 1968, was a tragic day in America, as civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. TN. On this week's episode of Mad Men, we witness the historical event from the perspective of the mostly white upper-class employees of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. On the show, Pete Campbell is surprisingly genuinely distraught by the death and Joan awkwardly tries to comfort Don's black secretary, Dawn. Although Dawn is clearly rattled, she says she'd rather be in the office than at home when her co-workers encourage her to take the day off. As for Don, he worries mostly about his mistress who was in DC for the weekend. In the episode we also experience the unrest in NYC through Don's eyes as he nervously drives his kids through the streets with sirens blaring.

While many of the Mad Men characters express sometimes tone-deaf sadness and worry over race riots, in real-life 1968, civil rights leaders were attempting to maintain MLK's message of nonviolence in the aftermath. April 7 was declared a day of national mourning by President Johnson, and on April 8, King's wife attended the March on Memphis, which King had planned on attending. On April 9, hundreds of thousands came out for the funeral in Atlanta, GA, where Dr. King "eulogized" himself, as his "Drum Major" sermon, which he had given on Feb. 4, 1968, was played. In it, he directly addressed his own death and funeral. Take a look at photos from the days following MLK's assassination now.

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Past Royal Wedding Dress Pictures
Wedding

See How William and Kate's Big Day Compared to Past British Royal Weddings

Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their second wedding anniversary!
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Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their second wedding anniversary! Two years ago on April 29, the two tied the knot in the wedding seen round the world, becoming the hottest young royal couple and earning their new titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. And although they are a modern couple in many ways, William and Kate carried on a long British tradition of elaborate and glamorous royal weddings with their big, big day! As the happy twosome celebrate two years of wedded bliss and a baby on the way, let's look at how Will and Kate's wedding stacks up to past royal weddings.

July 29, 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer April 29, 2011: Prince William and Kate Middleton July 23, 1986: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson April 29, 2011: Prince William and Kate Middleton Nov. 20, 1947: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip Mountbatten Nov. 14, 1973: Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips May 6, 1960: Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones
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Mad Men History
women

The History Behind Mad Men Moments

Tonight we'll watch a new episode of Mad Men, and we're sure to learn even more about life in the '60s as we continue to relive the decade through the show.
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Tonight we'll watch a new episode of Mad Men, and we're sure to learn even more about life in the '60s as we continue to relive the decade through the show. There have been many ups and downs for the women of Mad Men, which mirrors what the real-life ladies of the '60s went through, dealing with sexism and the growing pains of the women's lib movement. If you're curious about the references and themes of Mad Men, then check out the real-life historical moments behind the show that has brought this swingin' slice of our country's yesteryear to the limelight.

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Royal Weddings Around the World
Wedding

Your Guide to Royal Weddings

On April 29, expectant parents Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary!
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On April 29, expectant parents Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their two-year wedding anniversary! In 2011, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot in a royal wedding seen 'round the world, breaking the record for the largest online live-streaming audience with a record 72 million live views from people across 188 countries. While many royal weddings don't garner the attention of Prince William and Kate Middleton's big day, they don't lack in lavishness.

Will and Kate's nuptials were part of a long tradition of elaborate royal weddings around the world. Last year, the tiny country of Luxembourg treated its Crown Prince Guillaume to an extravagant affair when he married Belgian Countess Stephanie de Lannoy. The celebration, which reportedly cost around $650,000 and was funded by taxpayers, spanned multiple days and included a guest list packed with kings, queens, and other royals from around the world. In Brunei, Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, the fifth daughter of Brunei's sultan, married Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini at her father's 1,700-room palace in front of 3,000 guests. A state dinner followed, and Queen Elizabeth II even sent her best wishes.

These royals make up some of the lesser-known but just as regal royals of the world. And just like the Brits, they know how to throw opulent weddings for members of their families. From the wedding for the future emperor of Japan in 1924 to Grace Kelly's Monaco spectacular in 1956 to Will and Kate's big day on April 29, 2011, here is a guide to the world's royal weddings over the years.

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