Wedding customs come and go as new trends influence brides but some have stood the test of time to continue through the centuries. One of those tenacious traditions is the tossing of the bridal bouquet. According to folklore, the single woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.

As early as the 1300s, getting a piece of a bride’s clothing was considered lucky, so guests would try to tear off a piece of her dress. To escape the mob without injury, brides would toss their floral bouquets to distract the guests. Over the centuries, this evolved into unmarried female guests gathering around the bride to catch the good fortune that came with catching the bouquet.

In Finland, the blindfolded bride slowly turns around the center of a circle of women who turn in the opposite direction. When everyone stops, the posy is handed to the lady standing directly in front of the bride.