COMMON SCENTS: Why Brides Carry Bouquets

Everyone has seen a bride carry flowers down the aisle at a wedding, but do you know how this tradition began? History offers up several stories to explain the significance behind the bouquets; everything from the use of certain varieties of flowers in hopes that their symbolism will affect the marriage, to the belief that certain flowers had the power to ward off evil spirits. The explanation I liked the best was this: According to the Huffington Post, during the 15th century, people took their YEARLY baths in May and would generally get married in June...since they didn't smell TOO bad just a month later (relatively speaking if course). Just to be on the safe side, brides would carry bouquets of flowers to mask their body odor! The rest of the story about the bathing habits of our ancestors was amusing to me as well...The annual baths consisted of a big tub of hot water, The man of the house got the nice, hot, clean water, then all the other male members of the household from sons to servants. They were followed by the lowly women, girls and last of all, the baby. By that time, the water was so filthy, you couldn't see into it and tiny tots could actually get lost in it, hence the expression, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."...tooooo funny!!!!