Evolution of Bridal Showers

It is pretty much a given that if there is a wedding, it will be preceded by at least one bridal shower, if not more. But did you ever stop to consider how the custom began? Bridal showers also have their own special set of etiquette and customs that are worth learning about before hosting or attending one. These are the origins and traditions of bridal showers, as well as practical advice about how to plan a shower.The story of the first bridal shower dates back to around the 16th or 17th Century in the Netherlands. In that era, it was expected that when a young lady married, she would come into the marriage with a dowry. The dowry could consist of cash, land or livestock, or the household goods needed to establish a home. In the tale of the original bridal shower, a lovely young Dutch girl fell in love with a kind hearted miller. So kind hearted was the object of her affection that the young lady's boyfriend often gave free bread to any villager who could not afford to pay him. The miller was rich in friendship and respect, but poor in cash, due to his generous ways.When the lovely young girl announced her intention to marry the miller, her father strenuously disapproved, and threatened to withhold her dowry. He wanted his daughter to marry a wealthy pig farmer, rather than her one true love, the poor miller. The people of the village learned of the young couple's situation and decided to repay the miller for his years of kindness. Though none of them alone could raise enough money to provide a dowry for the bride, the villagers realized that together they could each contribute enough to assemble a sizeable trousseau of household goods. They "showered" the miller and his bride-to-be with linens, china, vases, and all of the other items which they would need to set up their home as newlyweds. Thus the custom of the bridal shower was born.Bridal showers became popular in the United States in the 1890s, when the idea came into fashion among the ladies of the upper middle class in the late Victorian era. They did not lack for the means to establish a household, as most had been working on filling their hope chests with their trousseaus since childhood. The custom of the shower was adopted less to fill a need and more for the camaraderie it offered ladies during the exciting engagement period. Certainly, the brides did not mind receiving a few extra special items to start them off in their new roles as wives either.