On March 29, 2008 at 8pm, people all around the world participated in Earth Hour by turning off their electrically powered lights. Designed to raise public awareness of the problem of global warming and the importance of conserving energy, this year's Earth Hour has been deemed an overwhelming success by the public and environmentalists alike. Additionally, thousands of Canadians joined the worldwide effort to fight global warming by turning off the lights. Over 150 communities across Canada flicked their lights off for one hour, reducing the province's power usage by more then 5 percent.
Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign that highlights the waste of electricity and the threat of climate change began in 2007 in Australia and has quickly spread around the world. Now, the last Saturday of March is recognized internationally as "Earth Hour". People are realizing that it doesn't take much effort to protect our environment and reduce energy consumption.
Unlike most other recognized events, Earth Hour symbolizes the impact that individuals, businesses, communities, and governments can have on the environment. By recognizing this event, each one of us is committing to working together in a way that has a positive impact on climate change. No longer are people limited to who they are or where they live, but this is truly an event that brings people together for a common goal and purpose.
Some people and organizations are utilizing the recognition of Earth Day as a way to celebrate a special event such as a wedding. Individuals are using this observance and pairing it with something else they hold dear to their heart. For example, some couples have a great appreciation for nature so they recognized the celebration of their wedding and Earth Day with a fireside wedding ceremony, followed by a reception at a local resort's dining room. This unique opportunity enabled wedding guests to enjoy a catered dinner by candlelight as all electric lights were turned off at 8pm in observance of Earth Day.
The creativity used by some people who appreciate the impact that we can all have on our environment is astounding. Not only are people who honor Earth Day doing their part to protect the environment, but they are also using this event in a way that creates a particularly meaningful way to remember the celebration while taking advantage of the beautiful and secluded wilderness area-some of the exact things that Earth Day strives to preserve.
Earth Day brings to light the issues that we all face-global warming and energy waste. However, the issues and concerns at hand reach far beyond what turning out the lights for one hour on a specific day throughout the year can really do. In response to Earth Day, we should all become more aware of our energy consumption and find ways that we can make a positive and long-lasting impact on preserving the environment.
Several centuries ago, it was believed that owning a piece of the wedding dress that the bride wore on her wedding day would bring the owner good luck. This would often end up with the wedding dress being ripped and ruined. Thus, the brides started wearing wedding garters so that the good luck could be thrown to a single guest.
These days, it is tradition for the groom to remove the garter from the bride and throw it to all eligible bachelors to ensure his good luck. The bride, in turn, throws her bouquet to eligible women and that woman will be the next to marry. This varies from the tradition of centuries ago. It used to be the bride who would throw the garter to the eligible men. It is said that sometimes the men at the wedding would become too drunk and try to forcefully remove the garter from the bride. The groom would intervene and remove the garter from the bride to protect her. Thus, the groom rather than the bride threw wedding garters to the crowd.
When to Follow the Tradition of Wedding Garters
As one of the longest standing wedding traditions, wedding garters are still very popular. However, many brides are choosing to forego the tradition of having the groom remove the garter to throw to the eligible men. Many brides do not like the idea of exposing their leg to all of the wedding guests and have chosen to take a different spin on the tradition of wedding garters. However, if a bride is comfortable with the longstanding tradition, then she should include it in her wedding day.
For those brides who are uncomfortable with the tossing of wedding garters, there are alternatives. Many brides still choose to wear the garter since it has been such a staple of the wedding attire. Some brides will incorporate the tradition of "something blue" into her garter. If she so chooses, she does not need to even acknowledge the garter. Luckily, guests will not notice or care if this tradition has been left out.
Some brides will wear two wedding garters on her wedding day. This is because wedding garters become a keepsake. Sometimes they are passed down within the family or have special meaning and the bride does not want the garter to be tossed at random. In this case, she would wear the keepsake garter higher on her thigh and the other garter slightly lower. This will ensure that the tradition is carried out without losing something precious. Nobody will notice that she was wearing two wedding garters to begin with!
Wedding garters are traditions that will carry on for centuries more because they are one of the longest standing wedding traditions. It is entirely up to the bride and groom whether they choose to carry on with this tradition. Whether or not it is tossed, it is nice for the bride to wear a wedding garter to keep as a memento from her special day!
Both Olga Peicheva & Roland Jefferson Iii are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Olga Peicheva has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Beach Resort, Wedding Bells. is brand-new four-season Ontario resort offering luxury waterfront rental cottages, resort suites and first class dining in the Bancroft tourist. Olga Peicheva's top article generates over 480 views. to your Favourites.
Roland Jefferson Iii has sinced written about articles on various topics from Science, Health and Health Insurance. Roland Jefferson is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. For free resources covering Wedding Garters, please visit our