In ancient Roman weddings, what does the bulla represent for the bride?

The bulla, in the context of ancient Roman weddings, represents a protective amulet. Typically worn by children, the bulla was believed to safeguard the wearer from evil spirits and misfortune. For a bride, particularly if she was a young girl, wearing the bulla on her wedding day signified the transition from childhood to adulthood, highlighting the importance of her well-being as she entered a new phase of life through marriage. This belief in the bulla’s protective qualities emphasized the notion of safeguarding the bride and blessing her new status.

The other options do not align with the cultural significance of the bulla in Roman wedding traditions. It was not a gift for the groom nor a part of the wedding vow and did not symbolize freedom in the way that formal legal or social declarations might have. Instead, the bulla distinctly functioned as an amulet intended to offer protection during a significant life transition.