Scared? Find Out Why These 13 Superstitions Began

Usually viewed as a gesture of romance and new beginnings, the practice of a groom carrying his bride over the threshold actually has a more frightening origin. Some say it began as a symbolic way of showing that the bride was not too eager to leave her home, as that was considered unladylike, so the groom had to “force” her to go. However, other sources date it back to medieval Europe, when brides were thought to be extra vulnerable to being possessed by evil spirits, especially through the soles of their feet. So, to prevent them from tracking any demons into their new home, the grooms would carry their wives over the threshold. This practice has even been dated back to ancient Rome and the Rape of the Sabine Women, when Roman soldiers carried off women from the surroundings areas and raped them. Supposedly, this developed into a wedding tradition for the Romans as a sort-of game of chase between the bride and groom.