Storming the Castle

Sunday
May 22, 2016

My cousin got married yesterday in a castle.  This was my first castle wedding and let me tell you I was impressed.

Apparently castle's don't have elevators.  You would think with all those drawbridges and catapults they used someone would have thought how to put something together to pull us old people up to the top of the highest tower.  Then I remembered that the life expectancy in Medieval times was 30.  Hello, no one lived as long as I have back then.  Some of the relatives that are older than me only made it to the second level.  They just set up shop and had a little party in the hallway outside of the banquet room.  The "cocktail" hour was still at the top of the highest tower though. Thankfully we weren't served the most common drink from back in those days, mead or ale (grain and water fermented with yeast.)  Mead did not contain hops. It sounds pretty gross to me.

After about an hour in the highest tower we went down to the main floor to enter the banquet room. It was the most magical room that I had ever been in.  The music was played in a loft, high above the dance floor and the bridal party was seated on a raised dais that was stunning. Up lighting was showing on almost ever stone column and the chandeliers were breath taking. As we settled in to dine my mind started thinking about how did this all come about.

The first mention of marriage was the story of Jacob in Genesis 29. As we all know that didn't start out very well. Historically marriages were arranged to make alliances and expand the family labor force. The Catholic Church established the practise of monogamy between the 6th and 9th centuries.  Up until the 19th century marriage was legally or sacramentally recognized between just one man and one women.  Men had wide latitude to engage in extramarital affairs. Women were not allowed to participate in the same practises however without facing serious consequences.  Figures..

Wedding bouquets started as bunches of garlic and dill.  This started in 1665 till 1666 during the bubonic plague in London. This certain combination of herbs was thought to help the bride stay healthy.  Oh yeah, I can see where that would be real effective.

Believe it or not bridesmaids use to all dress like the bride to confuse evil spirits.  If they were all dressed alike, spirits would have a hard time picking out the bride. In Victorian time the practise was altered to short veils on the bridesmaids and very long veils and trains on the brides. Good thing because veils were worn to ward off evil spirits. Are you seeing a trend here. Our past generations were very superstitious.

As for the honeymoon. It's roots are found in Norse tradition. The bride and groom went into hiding for 30 days.  A friend or family member would bring them a cup of honey wine everyday, hence a "honeymoon."

Ashleigh's and Anthony's wedding was one of those events that only Ashleigh (an interior designer) could pull off. Absolutely every last detail was designed to coordinate with the castle and the bride's unique taste. Center pieces where lanterns with tall column electronic lights so if you were back in medieval times you would carry a lantern to see through the gloomy corridors. Real flowers adorned the tables and cakes.  The ladies room had a complete tray of feminine products that if you needed something after your long trip to the castle the host provided it. It would be too far to return home to acquire something you forgot. Flower seed packets were favors so that you could plant yourself a little touch of color in your garden. Then we got to the M&M® packets with their names, date and sentimental saying to coordinate with her color scheme of deep Burgundy and ivory. Everything was an event to remember.

This of course sent my mind to my Mother and Father. They will be married 67 years this coming September 17th.  Not only were my parents married on September 17th but so were my Mother's parents, her brother and her sister.  Now I am sure that there are some superstitious meaning there but I have never asked my Mother the reason why. If I can remember more than 5 minutes I will ask her this afternoon.  Even after 67 years of marriage, in my Father's chaotic mind, he still looks at her with total adoration in his eyes. When he can't think of a word or how to speak he searches for her in the room to help him. When he doesn't have the strength to lift food to his mouth she will sit on her stool and feed him. She will not get a hospital bed for him because she wants to be close to him in the night. She did let us install an air mattress to help him prevent bed sores. What is there that would bind someone together for 67 years? Again, we go to the mind a very complex organ and what ever the answer is there it will stay.

Ashleigh and Anthony I wish you 67 years and beyond of total faith and happiness. Remember you are each others best friends and best friends stick with you through thick and thin. Say "please" and "thank you" even after 67 years. Always have the look of love in your eyes that you had for each other on the dance floor last night. Dreams can come true. I mean you started your life together in a castle. What more fitting place to establish your marriage.

All our love and prayers go with you.

Peace, Phyllis and James

Sources
*Holy Bible
*Livescience
*How stuff works, Culture