Some wedding customs of other times and cultures were notably dramatic. For example, in ancient Rome, grooms carried their brides over the threshold. Before they did, however, they smeared the doorposts with fat and wrapped them in wool to banish evil spirits. In old Mexico, bridal couples shaved their heads to show that they had set aside childish ideas and welcomed the responsibilities of marriage. And, in 18th-century England, the groom's mother broke a loaf of bread over the bride's head as the bride entered her new home. This, they believed, ensured future happiness for the married couple.