Tossing Rice
By believing that newlyweds brought good
luck, guests used to shower them with nuts
and grains to insure a bountiful harvest,
and many children to work the land. During
years of a poor harvest, rice was tossed
instead. This tradition continues today with
rice or birdseed (where permitted), or
bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom much
happiness. Incidentally, it is not true that
birds eating rice thrown after a wedding
ceremony will cause their stomachs to
enlarge and eventually explode. This myth
may have simply evolved from church and
synagogue employees weary from cleaning up
after every wedding ceremony!
The throwing of rice on the couple has
always been symbolic of wishing prosperity
and good luck. In the Orient, throwing rice
means, “May you always have a full pantry.”
Wheat and other grains are sometimes thrown
in addition to rice, thereby also wishing
prosperity and lack of want. Each shower
bestows “Goodwill Traditions” of wealth
upon the newlyweds. To this day, rice
remains a token of a life of “plenty.”
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