May is known as the “brides month”, but there is not only one explanation for choosing this time of year for the weddings to take place. Among the possible reasons are the more pleasant temperatures and the emergence of flowers in the northern hemisphere; link with the consecration of Mary, mother of Jesus; and strong influence of Mothers Day in some countries.
After all, why did May become bride's month?
Many customs that are perpetuated in human history come from the Northern Hemisphere, such as the choice of the month of May to be the symbol of weddings. Countries with low temperatures remained for long periods without sunlight and the lack of heating in homes also dictated the habits of some peoples.
Different societies were waiting for the increase in temperatures to resume their baths, as the water was very cold at other times. The cold diminished around May, when it was easier to find flowers to be used in clothes and in baths and oils, which allowed the population to improve body odors.
With warmer temperatures, flowers available for personal use and decoration, as well as less rainfall, May has become conducive to weddings, as it allowed for outdoor gatherings, festivities without climatic setbacks and the gathering of people more pleasant.
Another habit common to brides also emerged from the use of flowers close to the body: the bouquet. In addition to serving as an ornament, the bouquet gave off a pleasant smell in the ceremonies.
The bouquet of flowers started to be used next to the body to perfume the bride
From the point of view of Catholicism, May has an important meaning: the consecration of Mary. As for the Church, marriage is linked to purity, the formation of a new family and the strengthening of the commitment to faith, the month has a symbology for brides who wish to make the union official in Christianity.
May the greatest number of weddings take place? Will be?
Despite not being the month with the highest number of weddings, May remains famous as a time dedicated to marriages. In Brazil, December took on the position of darling of brides, taking into account factors such as receiving the 13th salary, the vacation New Year's Eve and the highest temperatures.
See too: Why does the bride marry in white?
Wedding dress
Unlike the romantic ideal, marriage has its roots in commercial contracts. Agreements involving interests between families gave rise to the act of formalizing the union of two people. The union dictated by the parents of the couple, often still in their infancy, persists in some Eastern societies to this day.
Main symbol of marriage, the wedding dress it has already undergone major changes over the centuries: from spacious, luxurious and brightly colored in the Middle Ages, to demonstrate the richness of the families, the structured, delicate models and the purity of the white color that became popular in the West.
Even today, the wedding dress appears in different ways and colors around the world. Generally, the choice of model, fabric and shade is linked to the meaning that such symbols have in each religion.
There is no historical consensus for the adoption of the white dress as the symbol of brides. Nonetheless, Mary Stuart, from Scotland, used the color in her attire as a way to honor her mother's family crest. Maria de Medici, in France, was against the black of the 17th century Catholic Church and adopted the white tone in her marriage.
The explanation focused on the point of view of romantic love, on the other hand, gives the RAinha Victoria (19th century) the attribution of pioneering when wearing the white dress. She was one of the first women of the nobility to marry for love and the color became known as the Victorian hue.
Changes
Predominant in the preference of brides for a long period, the month of May lost its place in some parts of the world.
In Brazil, the largest number of weddings are celebrated in December. The choice is linked to financial reserves such as the 13th, the possibility of vacations and the absence of cold weather. November appears next, also for the same reasons. For brides who want a climate similar to that experienced in the northern hemisphere in May, an option is to get married in September or October, the flower season, hot temperatures and with less rain than the end of the year. year.
In the United States, the bride and groom dispute the dates for the month of February. The proximity of the Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day), celebrated on February 14 in North American lands, makes the demand for the season even greater than in May.
fall in marriages
Despite being a profitable branch for the market, the number of weddings has fallen in recent years. In Brazil, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) registered a drop of almost 4% in marriages from 2015 to 2016.
The official IBGE numbers take into account civil marriages, which can make a difference if compared to the number of couples who live together without formalizing the union.
By Lorraine Vilela
Journalist
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/curiosidades/mes-das-noivas.htm
