Marriage in the West I

　　Most American brides choose to be married in white. The color has long been associated with weddings becaus e of its supposed symbolic link to virginity. Viewed hi storically, the link between white and virginity (or pu rity ) is not as absolute as is often supposed. Brides in ancient Rome married in white, but because the color signified joy, they were veiled in bright orange veil, which suggested the flames of passion. In the western C atholic tradition, too, white has always been the color of joy. In some other societies, white is used to denot e the significance of various passage ceremonies, among them funerals as well as weddings. For example, among t he Andaman Islanders(安达曼群岛)，white indicates simply a ch ange of status; and the traditional Chinese white for f unerals is a symbolic representation of hope.

　　The "traditional" white wedding dress, moreover, is a recent innovation. It did not become popular until ab out the early 19th century. Its popularity may be due l ess to its association with virginity than to a showoff of one's privilege. Most Victorian brides wore traditio nal national costumes. The white dress, an impractical innovation, became popular among the upper classes prec isely because of its defects: Victorian brides from pri vileged backgrounds wore white to indicate that they we re rich enough to wear a dress for one day only. Later, the white wedding dress also became popular among bride s from somewhat less privileged backgrounds, but till t he first part of this century they would put on their w hite dress on special occasions throughout the first ye ar of their marriage. The custom of locking it away aft er the wedding is less than a hundred years old.