Hefting Your Honey - Why a Bridegroom Carries His Bride Across the Threshold

Why does the bridegroom scoop up his bride

And hold her aloft in the air?

Why does he carry her gently inside

Instead of just grabbing her hair?

Tradition has said he must spare her the step

To foster good luck in their home.

For decades and more, each groom must schlep

Or spend his first night all alone.

For centuries, or perhaps for millennia, bridegrooms have carried their blushing brides across the thresholds on their wedding nights, or upon arrival in their newlywed home. What is the purpose of this tradition? Where did all this heavy lifting begin?

Several explanations may be offered for the origins of this international custom. You can take your pick:

Taking a Bride

An old Anglo-Saxon custom insisted upon the groom's capturing and stealing his wife away from the wedding festivities and carrying her to their bridal chamber, while the guests continued their revelry.

Guarding Against Misfortune

Ancient Romans held a superstition that a newlywed couple could be plagued by misfortune, if the little woman tripped in the entrance to their home. To prevent this from occurring, the groom would carry the bride inside.

Putting the Right Foot Forward

Early Slavic societies nurtured the belief that a bride must not set her left foot into the newlyweds' home before her right one. Apparently, this would result in many years of bad luck. By entering the home in her beloved's arms, she would not be exposed to this risk.

Shielding from the Nether World

Greek mythology carried stories of evil spirits living in the earth, particularly underground. For this reason, young maidens would scatter flower petals in a bride's path for the wedding celebration. Afterwards, when the couple would retire to their home, the groom would carry the wife through the door to protect her from the evil netherworld spirits underground.

Keeping a Bride Demure

In medieval times, polite society deemed it improper for a maiden to be eager for the deflowering that would inevitably occur on her wedding night. To save her from appearing enthusiastic for her groom's attentions, he would carry her to the nuptual chamber, as if she needed coercion.

Blocking Demons' Access to the Home

The Viking peoples suspected a bride might unwittingly carry demons from her household of origin into her new home. If her bridegroom lifted her initially into their home, the demons would be prevented from entering with her.

Dragging the Maiden into the Cave

Of course, we have all heard stories of the cave man, who would growl and grab a woman by her long hair before dragging her into his cave. Ugga-bugga!

Call it progress! What woman wouldn't rather be swept off her feet than snatched by her hair by some big lug?