... rice is thrown at weddings?
Since early Roman times some grain -- usually wheat -- has been associated with the
wedding ceremony. Wheat, a symbol of fertility, was carried in the bride's hand or worn by her in the
form of a garland. As the bride left the church, grains of wheat were tossed at her, and young girls rushed
to pick up the grains that had actually touched the bride. These were assumed to have the power to
ensure the young girl a wedding of her own in the near future.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, wheat was no longer tossed at brides but was instead
baked into small cakes that were then crumbled and tossed over the bride's head. Later the small cakes
were replaced by one large one, which was cooked and eaten.
This change in ceremony left the wedding guests feeling deprived, since they had nothing to toss
at the bride. Since at that time rice was cheap, clean, and white, it seemed a good substitute for the
more expensive wheat cakes.
