bride and groom. The veil was a square piece of fabric held over the heads of both individuals, and it was also meant to conceal the bride's blushes. Wedding canopy and similar customs The canopy in British wedding ceremonies was purportedly employed to conceal the bride's blushing, although historical accounts from Edward describe it as a veil. Nonetheless, it cannot be conclusively regarded as a precursor to the veil, given that British brides did not typically wear veils until the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Similar types of bridal canopy ceremonies may be performed during weddings across different societies, and they may hold different significances. The Chuppah, a canopy used in Jewish weddings, is another example of a canopy custom. In Sri Lanka, a decorated canopy known as a "poruwa" is utilized during the wedding ceremony, serving as a platform where the couple can either sit or stand. In Egyptian weddings, the bride is escorted to the baths the night before the wedding under a silk canopy. On the day of the wedding, the bride walks under a silk canopy of bright colors such as pink, rose, or yellow, often striped with two colors, which is carried by four men using a pole at each corner. A canopy was used by the Bedouin of Ethiopia to conceal the bride. As part of Chinese wedding customs, a sacred umbrella was used to shield the bride's head from malevolent forces and safeguard this delicate body part. The wedding mandapa refers to a temporary pavilion [Canopy] constructed specifically for the purpose of conducting Hindu or Jain weddings. It serves as the primary location for conducting the main wedding rituals and ceremonies. See also Lucca cloth References Wedding clothing Ceremonial clothing Clothing by type Wedding dresses