Have You Ever Wondered Why

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 a 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.

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