Rice, Bubbles & Birdseed

There are many wedding customs and traditions throughout the world but we do many of these things because they are customary without really understanding what they mean or where they come from. One of those traditions is throwing rice at the newlyweds as they run the gauntlet of guests. The history and meaning of using rice or grain dates back to the ancient Hebrew, Assyrian, and Egyptian societies where the throwing of food items over the newlyweds was symbolic of fertility.

Food was a natural product to throw because it was meant to give the newlyweds good luck and a hope for prosperity. Seeds or nuts were often thrown as a symbol of fertility since the small seed grows into a larger plant. Wheat and rice were symbols of prosperity to wish the newlyweds abundance and healthy children to help work the land. Italy throws sugared nuts and sweets (the word confetti comes from the Italian word for confection). Some European countries throw eggs, others throw wheat. Moroccans throw raisins and dates to wish a fruitful union for the newlyweds.

Rice became the popular item in the United States to wish prosperity and luck on newlyweds and was a common part of traditional weddings. Birdseed has widely replaced rice due to a widespread urban myth that rice is harmful to birds. The myth states that birds eat the rice and then explode because the rice swells when they ingest it. This legend is not true and has been debunked by ornithologists and bird watchers. Uncooked rice has no negative effects on birds; in fact they have been known to eat it in the wild.

How has the tradition of throwing rice turned into a traditionoflowingbubbles on the happy couple? Rice became unpopular in recent past years for a few reasons. A myth surfaced that uncooked rice eaten by birds will expand in their stomachs and cause the bird to explode. This exploding bird theory is still contested, but many experts say this simply isn’t true. Another reason rice became unpopular was because of the possibility of someone slipping on the rice and getting injured. Also, after the wedding party and guests left, someone needed to clean up the rice that was left.

The throwing of rice did not immediately evolve into blowing bubbles at the happy couple, however. Birdseed was the next popular choice to be showered upon the bride and groom. Birdseed can cause its own problems. Birdseed obviously attracts birds. And with many birds flying above a bride, groom and their many guests there is always a possibility of someone getting hit with bird droppings. Also, as with the rice, someone could slip on the seed and get injured.

Another potential problem with both rice and birdseed is that some of what is thrown may end up stuck in the bride’s hair. There is a German tradition that says that the bride will have as many children as grains or rice that stay in her hair, but most of today’s brides don’t see that as a particular blessing. Also, with the cost of getting your hair done for a wedding these days, having rice or birdseed stuck in your hair is quite undesirable.

So the rice evolved to birdseed and the birdseed has evolved into bubbles. Many consider bubbles ideal since they do not attract birds, pose no slipping danger, do not need to be cleaned up and will not get stuck in the brides hair. The symbolism remains – the wedding guests shower blessings of fertility and prosperity on the bride and groom as they leave their wedding – but the problems dissolve in the air. Also, it’s fun to blow bubbles, especially for the children attending the wedding.

Bubbles are not the only alternative to rice and birdseed. Sparklers at night time weddings, flower petals, and if you have the spare cash to pay for it, releasing live butterflies as the newlyweds emerge are all options that modern couples have chosen. Bubbles, however, seem to be the most common way of keeping the tradition of showering the bride and groom with blessings alive.