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Create a New Tradition for "Something Blue" with Tanzanite
(ARA) - Planning a wedding takes a lot of time, work and
decisions. Some decisions are made for us in the form of
traditions that were created by our ancestors, but what do they
really mean?
While some may believe that wedding traditions are
superstitious, the symbolism they represent was developed out of
reason and a purpose in their time. Some examples include:
*The groom used to kidnap his bride and hold her on his left
arm, so that his sword arm was free to fight off any other
suitors. Presently, when the bride walks down the aisle to meet
the groom before the alter she stands to his left.
*Marriage was often used as a means to bring together two
opposing tribes so the families sat on opposite sides to avoid
any fighting during the ceremony. Today, wedding guests will sit
on the bride or groom "side" depending on who they're related
to, or which member of the wedding party is their friend.
*Wearing a wedding ring has several different historic meanings.
The circular shape was a sign of never-ending love, without
beginning or end. Some early engagement rings were symbolic of
the "sale" of the bride from her father to the groom. And, the
ring finger is believed to contain a vein that is directly
connected to the heart.
*Brides wore a veil to be unrecognizable to evil spirits who may
try to snatch her away.
*The white wedding dress was worn to symbolize purity of heart
and innocence of childhood. Queen
Victoria
popularized the style upon her wedding to
Prince Albert
at which time white symbolized the bride's virginity.
Perhaps the most well-known of wedding traditions is the rhyme
"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something
Blue." What does it mean? Something old is for the durability of
marriage and continuity of your old life into the new one;
something new symbolizes the start of your new married life;
something borrowed should come from a happily married woman
whose virtues you most wish for yourself; and something blue
symbolizes the promise of love, fidelity and purity of heart.
Whether you want to follow all the historical traditions or
create your own is entirely your choice and there are options.
One alternative to the blue garter is to wear jewelry with blue
gemstones. Among your choices, sapphire, lapis, turquoise and
tanzanite, prized for its vibrant shades of sapphire blue,
amethyst and blue violet, and frequently confused with sapphire.
"If you look closely, tanzanite is one of the few gems that
feature three colors. Blue and purple are the primary colors,
but many pieces also show a flash of red," explains Scott
Parker, graduate gemologist and Jewelry Television host. "This
adds to the mystique and rarity of tanzanite. In the gem world,
we call this a 'trichroic' gem."
Discovered in 1967 and mined only in
Northern Tanzania,
Africa, tanzanite is 1000 times rarer than diamonds and because
of its limited availability, rapidly growing in value.
Tanzanite costs approximately $600 per carat wholesale -- and
this price doubles or even triples depending on location. At
this rate, the stones make a fine alternative to the diamond
engagement ring. "I believe one of the safest buys in a gemstone
is tanzanite," continues Parker. "Not only is the stone
beautiful, it is valuable. Tanzanite is truly a generational
stone that will someday be one of the most prized gems to own."
The lighter-colored blue gemstones are usually less expensive
than the darker stones, and are perfect for the bride's
"something blue," bridesmaid's jewelry and even for
mother-of-the-bride (or groom).
Legend has it that wearing a well-cut tanzanite imparts
confidence, individuality and maturity. Regardless of which
wedding traditions you fit in or whether you create your own, if
your wishes are well, that is what will carry into your new
lives together.
To learn more about tanzanite, log on to Jewelry Television's
learning library at
www.jtv.com
and visit the Bridal Store for bridal jewelry ideas.
Courtesy of
ARA Content
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