A Brief History Of The Garter |
The “Order Of The Garter” is the highest and the oldest order of knighthood in Great Britain.
An old story states that while King Edward III of England was dancing with the Countess of Salibury at a great court ball, she lost her garter. Several people saw the event. In response they took pleasure in teasing and throwing remarks, as the King picked it up to hand it to her. The angry King exclaimed in French “Evil be to him who evil thinks…. Shame on all who thinks ill of it.” He then stated that he would make the little blue garter, “so glorious that everyone would wish to wear it.” Although it is not known whether this story is true, in 1349 the order was founded by King Edward. Other than the King, only Members Of The British Sovereign, 25 Knights (with other members of the royal family as super-numeraries) were first admitted. St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle is the chapel of the order. The emblem of the order is a dark blue garter edged in gold with the words the King spoke printed on it, “Honi soit qui y pense ” ("Shame on all who thinks ill of it”). During all ceremonial occasions, the garter is worn on the left leg below the knee.
Throwing the garter comes from an old English custom called "flinging the stocking." Wedding guests would invade the bridal chamber and steal the bride's stockings. They would then take turns flinging them around. The lucky person who threw the stocking that landed on the groom's nose, would be the next to marry. In the 14th century, possession of the garter had become extremely competitive. The bride would often be rushed at the altar by hordes of guests competing for the prize. Nowadays the groom removes the garter (which is usually worn at the mid-thigh level) from her leg and tosses it to some very excited bachelors).
References; Encyclopaedia Britannica, The World Book Encyclopedia
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