Where??? Tulle, France, of course!

Welcome to the first in a series of History Channel inspired posts! 

The one thing every veil has in common, regardless of the size, shape, embellishments, attachments, etc, is the tulle.  And actually, some veils aren't even made of tulle.  Last year, I attached a comb to a spectacular piece of Belgium lace for one of my brides.  It was stunning!  But typically, a wedding veil includes tulle, somehow, somewhere, on the piece.

The first thing I learned about tulle is that it came from and is named after Tulle, France.  I like to think that Tulle, France is a sleepy little town in rural France where grandmothers sit around in rockers making tulle.  But exactly how sleepy is up for debate.  I mean, they did create the most important fabric of my life.  Tulle, France has a population of about 19,000, so it is no booming metropolis, but you won't miss it if you blink while driving through either.

I'm pulling my facts from Wikipedia, which is probably the cardinal sin in research, but this is free, so why would you complain?  ;)

This "sleepy little town" almost sounds like a fairy tale.  Quoted from Wikipedia: "The Romans established a temple to honor Tutela, goddess of protection of property and persons. The name of the city comes from this goddess. She was honoured here because it was a ford over the Corrèze where passed a very old road between Brittany and the Mediterranean sea. In the seventh century was built a monastery dedicated to St. Michael. The local population settled around the buildings. The first monastery, destroyed by the Viking invasions in 846, was rebuilt but disappeared in the eleventh century."

Now I love Jesus and won't be changing this anytime soon, but... Tutela, the "goddess of protection of property and persons" almost fits - is marriage not a vow to protect?  To protect the other's heart, passions, life, love, dreams, goals, and loved ones. As many a couples have repeated during many a ceremonies "I, (Bride/Groom), take you (Groom/Bride), to be my (wife/husband), to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part." Sounds a lot like protection to me.

Tulle, France.  Photo from igougo.com

Next blog topic: more on tulle, the fabric.

Disclaimer: this blog (or its contents) is in no way affiliated with the History Channel or any of its partners, programs, etc.