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New Trends in Bridal Showers
| Article
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14626 |
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Section : |
LIFE
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| Issue
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5 / 1988 |
1,425 Words |
| Author
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Gail Greco
Gail Greco is the author of the just-released Bridal Shower
Handbook (Wallace-Homestead, 1988). |
Today's bridal showers rival the weddings they precede in size, scope, and importance. These prenuptial gift-givings, which have long been domain of engaged women and their female friends, now include the groom. The presence of men is just one way these festive gatherings have changed.
Although it probably wasn't called a bridal shower, the first prewedding fete for the bride-to-be presumably took place in Holland, too long ago for the date to have been noted. Word of the unique celebration was passed down through oral folklore. The story begins with a young Dutchman who, although he was poor, gave whatever he had to destitute neighbors. When the lad fell in love and wanted to marry, he had no worldly possessions to offer his fiancée.
The bride's father was unimpressed with the young man's amorous offering, so he refused to give his daughter a dowry. When the said tale reached the townspeople, they remembered his generosity. So they reached into their humble cupboards and brought household items to the penniless bride, showering her with enough necessities to start her homemaking.
Europeans brought the concept of showering the bride to America by introducing the quilting bee. Hosted by relatives of the bride and groom the object was to make a quilt for the nuptial bed.
It was not until the Victorian era, however, with its emphasis on finery and good taste, that the bridal shower concept was formalized. It became a get-together at someone's home, where a few select friends and relatives would "shower" the bride-to-be with kitchen items and
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