Looking back on last weeks discussion, it is interesting to learn and quite important to remember that as widespread as the tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet is, there are other incredibly special ways of crowning "bride-to-be's" all over the world. For example, in Finland a tradition quite similar to and just as beautiful as the act of a queen passing her crown down to her descendants exists. This tradition is incorporated into weddings all throughout Finland, and quite commonly at that.
On her wedding day, a Finnish bride traditionally wears a golden crown. She keeps it on her head through the duration of the entire wedding; during the exchange of vows, through the feasts and dances, etc. It is only at the very end of the wedding that the bride finally removes her crown. After being blindfolded, she stands in the center of a circle of her closest female friends as they dance around her. After a little while, the bride takes her crown off and, still blindfolded, lowers it onto the head of whichever lucky woman happens to be closest. This woman is then considered to be next in line for marriage. The tradition is quite old yet is just as beautiful as it ever was, for there is just something absolutely charming about "crowning" a future bride.
By Julia Dankov
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