The Archaic Reason Behind The Tradition Of Wedding Cake Smashing

Smashing a wedding cake in your partner's face after the ceremony is one of those things we all think about doing. Some couples consider it a display of good-natured fun, while others might deem it a form of disrespect. Hopefully, before you attempt going off page for some shenanigans, you know how the other person will react. But do you know where this admittedly antiquated tradition came from?

The wedding cakes of ancient Rome were not the multi-tiered delectables that we have today. They were reportedly made of barley and wheat. And, they served a few very specific and important purposes. For example, ending the ceremony by breaking the cake over the bride's head was done to bring good fortune to the couple. Additionally, sprinkling crumbs over the bride's head showed she was subservient to the groom, and eating those crumbs symbolized the bride accepting her place, as this was the first act performed as a couple.

According to legend, Romans brought this tradition to ancient Britain where it eventually evolved into cake smashing. However, it would be difficult to find a pivotal moment in history when the sprinkling of crumbs officially became the modern-day cake smash. It would be even harder to argue that in today's culture, cake smashing was a show of male dominance, especially since both bride and groom can initiate the smash.

In anthropologist Dr. Simon Charsley's book  "Wedding Cakes: and Cultural History," the author suggests, "Myth looks to the past to explain whatever is perceived to be important in the present." In other words, while there are roots that seem similar to current behavioral trends, there is no direct tie between Roman cake practices and the modern-day fun of smashing cakes, so that empty space is filled with fiction, which seems to make sense.

While tradition is essential to maintaining cultural identity, sometimes, it can just be for fun. If you want to get a little playful and relieve some stress after the ceremony, don't let the weight of history and mythology spoil your good time. Live in the moment, not the past.