Flower girls and ring bearers have long been traditions in weddings. Ring bearers are typically the son of someone close to the bride and groom, while flower girls are usually the daughter of a close friend or relative. In modern times, the ring bearer or flower girl might be the child of the bride and groom. The ring bearer typically carries a pillow, which may or may not hold the couple's wedding bands. The flower girl carries a basket usually filled with rose petals that she drops on the floor on her way down the aisle. The first flower girl was used in weddings in ancient Rome. She carried sheaths of wheat and herbs meant to signify fertility and was of service to the bride and groom on their wedding day. Today the flower girl is a symbol of the connection between childhood and womanhood. Ring bearers trace back to medieval times, when a page boy would carry the rings. Pillows were scarce in those days, so placing the wedding rings on a pillow gave them a position of prominence.