The history of the tradition of the wedding cake is a fascinating one.

There are legends of brides scattering grains which were considered good luck. The grains were then gathered quickly by the single maids, thus ensuring their own happy future nuptials. By the Middle Ages, we see stories of the grains now being made into loaves of bread, but rather than being eaten, these loaves were broken over the bride’s head. Eating the crumbs was also considered good luck for those guests who managed to get some.

Eventually these loaves became sweet buns which the wedding guests would toss in a pile in front of the couple. If they could kiss over the top of the pile, they would be sure to have many children.

The first mention of anything like a cake is the Bride’s Pie in the 17th century. This pie was made of mutton, sweatbreads or perhaps mince and might have had a glass ring baked into it. The superstition was that the guest who found the ring would be the next to marry.

Cakes became more popular at weddings in the 19th century and the bride’s pie pretty much disappeared. Some sources say it was a French chef who made the first “stacked” wedding cake. In any case, it was at the marriage of one of Queen Victoria’s daughters that the first tiered cake with pillar supports and piped icing as decoration first appeared.

The tradition of cutting the cake evolved as a symbol of the couple’s shared life as they jointly cut the cake and then respectfully feed each other in an act of love and honor. As tradition tends to be bent by each succeeding generation, this quiet and symbolic act is now usually carried out in clown-like fashion, with couples smashing pieces of cake into each other’s faces.

Traditionally, the wedding cake has been white, with white icing. In modern times, cakes come in many different flavors and can even include cheesecake flavored with jams and cordials. The icing has undergone change too, with many brides opting for decoration that reflects their personal taste or the interests of the couple.

Probably the wedding with the greatest number of ill omens was that of Amadeo, the Duke D’Aosta of Italy, to Princess Maria del Pozzo della Cisterno in 1867. It is hard to imagine a longer list of catastrophes.

The wardrobe mistress hanged herself and, for some unknown reason, the palace gatekeeper cut his own throat (no small feat in itself). Then the colonel leading the wedding procession collapsed from heat exhaustion and the king’s aide fell from his horse and died from his wounds.

After the wedding, a stationmaster was crushed to death under the wheels of the honeymoon train. And, presumably in despair at all these goings on, the best man shot himself. It sounds as though suicide was all the rage in Italy at the time.

You would think that all this might augur badly for the future of the couple and so it proved. The Princess soon found that her new husband had an eye for the ladies and little idea of fidelity; her complaints to the king were ignored, it being suggested that the behavior of the Prince was no business of hers.

In 1870, Amadeo was elected king of Spain, only to find himself without popular support and unable to prevent uprisings by various political factions. He abdicated in 1873 and went back to Italy. Poor Maria della Cisterna died in 1876, perhaps worn out by the Prince’s turbulent lifestyle.

Roses are one of the most romantic and one of the most wished-for gifts a woman can receive from a man. Whether it is a perfect single rose or a dozen long-stemmed blooms, the giving of roses has long symbolized deep emotion.

But did you know that the colors of roses hold special meanings? The sender of roses should be aware of their meanings, to ensure he or she is sending the message intended.

Black Roses - traditionally black roses signify death. They can be used to symbolize death of an old part of life and a moving on into a new beginning, but the association with death is most likely to be the message the recipient assumes, and so it’s a risky choice.

White Roses - stand for purity, unity, innocence, sincerity, reverence and a love stronger than death. White roses are also used widely in bridal bouquets.

Yellow Roses - stand for happiness and friendship, domestic contentment, familiar love and joy.

Pink Roses - represent elegance, grace, romance, friendship and appreciation or gratitude.

Peach Roses - stand for desire and optimisim for the future, anticipation.

Purple Roses - signify enchantment, opulence, majesty and glory. They convey the message of undying love.

Blue Roses - represent fantasy, miracles, and hope. Blue roses can stand for for new possibilities.

Red Roses - Red roses are the gift of a true romantic and a passionate lover, one who wants to express deep love and desire. Red is the most popular color for roses.

Vortigern was king of Britain after the Romans had left. Beset by invasions by the Scots and Picts of Scotland, Vortigern invited the Saxons of Germany to help defend Britain. Under their leaders, Hengist and Horsa, the Saxons came over in 449 AD and drove the invaders back to their own land.

In gratitude, Vortigern gave Hengist and his men land in the south east of Britain but the Saxons wanted more. They had seen the country and decided that they could rule it. Hengist invited Vortigern to a feast in celebration of their alliance and, during the festivities, Hengist’s beautiful daughter, Rowena, entered carrying a golden chalice.

Rowena went up to Vortigern, and kneeling before him held out the cup, speaking in the Saxon language.

Vortigern did not understand. “What does she say?” he asked Hengist.

“She calls you ‘Lord, King,’ and offers to drink your health. You must say, ‘Drinc heil,’ ” he answered.

Vortigern said “Drinc heil,” although he did not know what it meant.

Rowena then drank some of the wine and handed the cup to Vortigern, who drank the rest.

Then Vortigern made Rowena sit beside him. They could not talk to each other because he could only speak British and she could only speak Saxon. But they looked at each other all the more. Vortigern loved Rowena. He loved her so much that he wanted to marry her.

This was just what Hengist had hoped would happen. He knew he would have a great deal of power in Britain when his daughter was queen. But at first he pretended to object, and only consented at last as if it were a great favour. He made Vortigern give him the whole of Kent, too, in return for allowing him to marry Rowena.

Our Island Story by H.E. Marshall

This is the story of how the Saxons established a foothold in Britain, from where they were to expand, in alliance with their kinsfolk, the Angles and Jutes, to take all of what came to be England (Angle-land). Like many stories of the distant past, it may be much romanticized and hold only a modicum of truth. Yet it would seem that the Anglo Saxon conquest of Britain was achieved not only through battle; there was a love affair that influenced events too.