Q: What can you tell me about the origins of the hispanic/filipino marriage customs of the arras and lazo, now available in English in the US?
A: John Chrysostom mentions the arras, but he’s referring to a betrothal ring. The 8th to 11th c. Mozarabic Liber ordinum has a prayer concerning the exchange of arras (pledges), and that’s probably the source that led to the present-day custom.
The lazo can be traced at least to the same source, possibly earlier.
My book will be out after the first of the year: https://www.litpress.