The custom of throwing rice and confetti and the giving of favors at weddings and special occasions originated with the Romans in 400 B.C. In ancient Rome, the bridegroom bade farewell to his bachelor-hood by distributing walnuts to his friends. Walnuts and hazelnuts, the forerunners of today's rice and almonds, were thrown during the wedding ceremony. During the 15th century, at the English court, it was customary to give little boxes of precious metal filled with almonds to symbolize good wishes for the coming year. In France, from the time of Louis XIV through the Napoleonic era, friends exchanged boxes filled with almonds. During the reign of the Russian Czars, the christening of the Imperial offspring was celebrated by giving relatives and friends golden favors specially designed for the occasion filled with candies and pastries.

The custom of giving favors as a wedding souvenir to celebrate the beginning of the couple's new life together was born in Italy during the eighth century. In the beginning, this custom was practiced only by the noble families. In the wedding of Victor Emanuel of Savoy to
Elena of Montenegro, favors of solid silver were given to their 1800 guests. By the end of the 19th century the practice had gained acceptance among all social classes, and it was customary for a Peasant couple to distribute their almonds in a golden cardboard box.

Today the giving of favors is not restricted to weddings alone, but is given to commemorate all kinds of occasions. The favor is filled with different colored almonds to signify each occasion. Pink and blue is used for christenings, red for graduations, green for engagements, white for weddings, and silver and gold for 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries.