Where did the tradition of fathers giving their daughters away at weddings come from?

Question

Anyone know?

Answer 1

When women were chattle.

There was a United Methodist Church Wedding in the 60s which had the bride given to the man and the groom given to the wife which was interesting but long.

These days the giving of one to the other should (and in most localities and up-to-date traditions) us optional just like it used to be that the bride had to agree to 'obey' her husband as if she were a puppy with brains.

Answer 2

From h**l...

Answer 3

At one time, daughters were literally considered their father's property. Once the daughter was engaged to a man, the father would "give her away" at the wedding as she is no longer his property, but her new husband's.

Nowadays, fathers giving their daughters away at weddings is considered a more nostaglic way of saying she's grown-up and no longer has to depend on her parents.

Answer 4

I am not exactly sure where the tradition came from, but for me it was a father giving his daughter away to another man, approving of the marriage.

It doesn't always have to be the father though. Before my husband, My brother was the most important man in my life, so I had him walk me down the isle.

Answer 5

Women were literally considered property not too long ago.  Men could even "inherit" them just like you would money or an antique chair.

Fathers "giving away" their daughters was a literal meaning about what was happening back then.  Now it's just symbolic of the girl becoming a woman and the famlies approval.