>From my understanding, the white outfit which is for the ceremony is symbol for death. It symbolizes the end of one life (with biological family) and the being of a new life (rebirth with husband) I believe that the white is Shinto specific but I could be wrong. I know that white for the ceremonial outfit goes back to at least the 1930s.
De -----Original Message----- At 01:51 PM 8/31/2005, Kimiko wrote: >>The shinto wedding kimono is pure white (shiromoku = pure white). >When did Japanese wedding gowns become pure white? Or is it Shinto only? My >mom was Buddhist, not Shinto. When? I dont know. Presently in Tokyo, some women do as many as 4 outfits for a wedding, uchikake or tomosode formal kimono with mon (family crest), another in pure white for the shinto ceremony, a western gown and a suit or dress for leaving the festivities. That's 4, all for the same bride, same wedding. Zowie. Sounds like the mostly black one is a formal tomosode. (B/W only, is for attending funerals IIRC; mostly black w/ splash of color is for other formal, yet serious events.) I hesitate to respond further given that you've got the cultural & ethnic background. I do not. I merely lived there. My sympathies on your recent(?) loss. --cin Cynthia Barnes [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
