When it comes to planning a wedding, people have to worry not only about food, flowers, and what they wear, they also have to honor many traditions, even if they don't understand their origins or meanings. However, to not follow these traditions, understood or not, might mean bad luck for the marriage or, at the very least, wedding guests. Every culture cherishes its own marriage traditions and superstitions. Many are not understood but are still seriously followed. Even people not normally superstitious wouldn't think of violating these traditions.  Many traditions originated from old rhymes, folktales or tribal traditions whose origins are lost in time. For example, one of the original meanings of the word 'wedding'; was to gamble or wager. This comes from the time when a bride price was required before marriage. This bride price could include land, social status, political alliances or money. There are equally surprising origins for such traditions as the ring finger, wedding ring, engagement ring, and wedding cake. For example, the finger used as the ring finger differs from culture to culture. In Greece during the third century the index finger was used. In India they used the thumb. The ring finger is the third finger, because it is connected to the heart by the 'vena amoris,'; or the vein of love. Early women's rings also had keys carved in them, symbolizing that women were able to unlock the hearts of their husbands. Most of these traditions deal with the strength of the relationship but there are other wedding traditions that deal with fertility. The wedding cake is for the most part white. Many people say this was to symbolize purity or virginity. Today, most couples have the opportunity to meet and get to know each other (often quite well). However, this isn’t always the case in other cultures. For example, the short story “Kyrgyzstan: The Kidnapped Bride”, shows a lot of it. Bride kidnapping,