Norwegian bridal crowns

Bride from Hordaland. Norwegian bridal crowns. Photo by Solveig Lund. Norsk Folkemuseum

Norwegian bridal crowns
Photos from the collection of Norsk Folkemuseum, Oslo, Norway, made in the period 1870-1920s by the photographer Solveig Lund. They feature girls in wedding dresses and beautiful headwear resembling fairy crown. Many brides are holding the Bible. The bridal crown is a part of fabulous Bunad – folk bridal outfit. In modern time in Norway the Bunad tradition has become very popular. Both women and men use their folk costumes at religious festivals and other ceremonies – folk dances, weddings, National Day celebration May 17th.

Solveig Lund Hardanger Bride, Norway Vintage hand-colored Albumen Cabinet Card

Bridal crown is worn during a wedding. The crown is known to be in use in several European countries from about the year 400. Crowns appeared during the Middle Ages as part of the Catholic churches, they adorned the statues of the Virgin Mary, “Queen of Heaven” and as a sign of chastity were used during the ceremony. After the influence of the nobility and the bourgeoisie wearing crown became the custom, which continued among farmers and ordinary people in the Nordic countries.

In the Orthodox churches have a tradition that both the bride and the groom wears crown. There coronation included as part of the wedding ceremony. In Greece crowns were usually made of flowers and taken home, in Russia they are made of metal and kept in churches.