Wedding Traditions from times past “Luck be a Lady tonight”
Weddings have changed drastically over the years but some things never change.
Weddings are of course joyous occasions and reasons for celebrations, the time when family and friends get together en masse and a real opportunity to get dressed up.
But apart from being happy times weddings are also associated with superstition and “old wives tales” which date back thousands of years and handed down from generation to generation.
Here are a few, so watch out on the day.
Shoes tied to the bumper of the car
Ever wonder why people do this? Well this dates way back to the Tudor times.
Obviously they didn’t have cars then but guests threw shoes at the happy couple and strange as it sounds, if the shoes hit the happy couple, this was meant to bring good luck. Can’t think that the Bride and Groom saw it like this.
And worse still the Anglo Saxon Groom would hit his Bride with a shoe to symbolize his authority over her.
Rather than throwing the bouquet the Bride threw her wedding shoe at the bridesmaids to see who would marry next. Thank heaven for flowers.
Getting dressed
Women through the ages have all been consumed with the wedding dress.
Many Brides’ marry in white as this is a symbol of purity.
So watch out girls when choosing the colour of your wedding dress, as each colour has a specific meaning, some not so good.
| Married in White |
you’ve chosen right |
| Married in Black |
you’ll wish yourself back |
| Married in Grey |
you’ll live far away |
| Married in Red |
you’ll wish yourself dead |
| Married in Blue |
he’ll always be true |
| Married in Green |
don’t want to be seen- With the exception of the Irish Bride |
| Married in Yellow |
ashamed of your fellow |
| Married in Pink |
your fortunes will sink |
Set the date - Which month, day is best to tie the knot?
As if you didn’t have enough to worry about.
Most couples choose the wedding date because a) it’s available, b) it suits family and friends.
Should we also be taking superstitions into consideration?
Read on if you dare….
| January |
Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving kind and true. |
| February |
When February birds do mate you may wed, or dread your fate. |
| March |
If you wed when March winds blow Joy and sorrow both you'll know. |
| April |
Marry in April when you can Joy for maiden and the man. |
| May |
Marry in the month of May and you'll surely rue the day. |
| June |
Marry when the June roses grow over land and sea you'll go. |
| July |
Those who in July do wed will labour for their daily bread. |
| August |
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see. |
| September |
Marry in September's shine, your living will be rich and fine. |
| October |
If in October you do marry love will come, but riches tarry. |
| November |
If you wed in bleak November only joys will come, remember. |
| December |
When December's snows fall fast, marry and true love will last. |
Set the date - Which month, day is best to tie the knot?
Monday for health
Tuesday for wealth
Wednesday's the best of all.
Thursday brings crosses
And Friday losses
But Saturday - no luck at all.
Well Gentlemen, you really have to put a lot of thought into popping the question and setting the date.
Looks like us Ladies only have to say Yes or No.
| A January bride will be a prudent housekeeper, and very good tempered. |
| A February bride will be an affectionate wife, and a tender mother. |
| A March bride will be a frivolous chatterbox, somewhat given to quarreling. |
| An April bride will be inconsistent, or forceful, but well-meaning. |
| A May bride will be handsome, agreeable, and practical. |
| A June bride will be impetuous, and generous. |
| A July bride will be handsome, but a trifle quick-tempered. |
| An August bride will be agreeable, and practical as well. |
| A September bride will be discreet, affable, and much liked. |
| An October bride will be pretty, coquettish, Loving but jealous. |
| A November bride will be liberal and kind, but sometimes cold. |
| A December bride will be fond of novelty, entertaining but extravagant. |
Get me to the Church on time
According to Mr and Mrs Superstition you are not even safe on the way to the Church.
Watch out for Mr Bad Luck along the way but welcome Mrs Good Luck with open arms.
Mr BAD LUCK
It is considered a bad luck for a bride to meet a pig on the way to her wedding ceremony. To avoid this live in town.
For country brides, cock crowing after dawn of the wedding day is a bad omen.
Tradition says it is bad luck for the groom to see his bride's wedding gown before the wedding day and it will bring more bad luck if he looks at the gown as she walks down the aisle.
Bride and Groom should not see each other the morning of the wedding – thought to come from the time of arranged marriages. Bride’s father was afraid the groom would change his mind if the Bride was not pretty.
Mrs GOOD LUCK will shine through
It is considered good luck for a bride to meet a lamb, a dove, a spider, a policeman, a clergyman, a doctor, a blind man, chimney sweep, or a black cat on her way to her wedding ceremony.
For good luck, the groom should give a coin to the first person he sees on his way to the church.
I’m all for this – superstition doesn’t stress the value but the higher the amount the more luck will be bestowed – (new superstition just written)
If the bride or a child cry during the wedding service it is considered lucky.
Dating back to Victorian times . . . seeing a chimney sweep on the way from the church will bring good luck.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe.
This well known superstition originated in Victorian times. It appears to have lost its last sentence at some stage.
- 'Something old' - an old garter, or a piece of family jewellery or accessory is often used, linking the Bride back to her single life.
- 'Something new' represents future health, happiness and success, this is usually the wedding dress.
- 'Something borrowed' could be a small trinket borrowed from family or a friend. It is thought to bring greater luck if it comes from another happily married woman. It must be returned to ensure good luck.
- 'Something blue' - it was in ancient Israel, where the bride wore a blue ribbon as a symbol of her fidelity, that the custom of wearing 'something blue' originated.
- Good wealth was wished for by placing 'a silver sixpence in your shoe.
