Wedding Superstitions: Are they Still Relevant Today?
Wedding days are meant to be filled with joy, love, and nothing but happy memories, right?
Unfortunately, some couples and their loved ones become stressed out by a whole host of superstitions and customs even on the happiest day of their lives. In this article, we will explore various wedding rituals that have been passed down through the ages and whether they are still relevant today.
Avoiding a Saturday Wedding
According to an old Celtic poem, “Saturday is no day at all to marry and bring luck to the hall.” This sentiment has been echoed through the ages and has become a popular wedding superstition. Although it may have been taken more seriously in the past, many couples opt to avoid Saturday weddings due to logistical concerns, rather than any particular superstition.
After all, many people have work on the weekdays and feel that holding a wedding on a Saturday would be more convenient.
Wearing Something Borrowed
One interesting tradition that has endured over the years is to wear something borrowed. The idea behind it is that by wearing an item from someone else who has had a successful marriage, the bride will bring good luck to her wedding and future married life.
It is a lovely nod to those who have had successful marriages before them, and brand new brides often embrace the opportunity to borrow something and feel a sense of continuity and tradition.
Avoiding Pearls
Many brides believe that wearing pearls on their wedding day will bring bad luck. However, the origins of this superstition remain unclear.
Some believe it is related to the tears that pearls resemble, and if the bride wears them, she may cry on her wedding day, which would indicate long-term unhappiness in the marriage. However, there’s nothing that can actually be done to avoid the potential misfortune that pearls may bring, so it’s best to follow your heart and stick to what makes you happy!
Wearing a Veil
In medieval times, brides wore veils to protect them from evil spirits who may seek to ruin their wedding day. Nowadays, the veil continues to be a popular wedding tradition, and symbolizes modesty and the bride’s virginity.
Brides today can be seen sporting different styles of veils, all the way from the classic full-length veil to hair accessories.
Crying on the Wedding Day
Its believed that crying on a wedding day is a positive omen, indicating that the couple will find happiness in their future together. A lot of the time, the bride is the one who sheds a tear or more due to the overwhelming emotions of the day.
However, this is not a compulsory act, and some couples wish to hold a calm and emotion-free wedding ceremony.
Finding a Spider on the Wedding Dress
If you find a spider on your wedding dress, dont freak out as its not bad luck! In fact, some believe that this is a sign of good fortune. It is said to represent a new life, wealth, and a good fortune in starting the new journey together as a couple.
Rain on the Wedding Day
A little bit of rain on your wedding day is considered good luck, as it represents the hope of a fruitful future. Additionally, rain is considered a symbol of fertility.
You can always use umbrellas or up your wedding game by having a rain-themed photo shoot to capture the magic of the moment.
Receiving Knives as a Wedding Gift
It is believed that giving knives as a wedding gift will cut a relationship short. As such, gifting a knife is frowned upon, no matter how beautiful the knife is.
If you do receive a knife as a wedding gift, provide some fruits along with it to pay for the gift.
Seeing Each Other Before the Ceremony
This popular superstition originated in Victorian times, when the groom was thought to be able to change his mind about the marriage if he saw the bride before the ceremony. However, nowadays, many couples opt to take pre-wedding photos together and have a first look session before the ceremony to calm nerves and have a beautiful moment together.
Yellow Roses as a Symbol of Jealousy
Yellow roses are believed to represent jealousy or infidelity. Unless they’re used in a particular context (such as being matched with pink roses), its wise to avoid them altogether.
In case youre looking for an alternate flower choice, consider a neutral flower such as white or red roses.
Receiving a Clock as a Wedding Gift is Bad Luck
In Chinese culture, receiving a clock as a wedding gift is considered to bring bad luck. Its said that youre cursing the relationship to the end, clocking the time as if its running out on the marriage.
So, avoid receiving clocks as a gift, whether theyre antique or contemporary.
The Groom Carrying the Bride
In medieval times, grooms had to carry their brides over the threshold as a symbol of strength and to protect her against any evil spirits lurking below. Nowadays, it serves as a fun and romantic photo opportunity, but is by no means a required tradition.
Using Your Married Name Before Your Wedding Day is Bad Luck
Many couples believe that using your married name before the wedding day is tempting fate and indicates bad luck in your upcoming marriage. Nowadays, it is less common but it is still an old superstition that is upheld.
Candied Almonds Bring Good Luck
Candied almonds have long been associated with love and weddings. They’re considered to be a sweet and auspicious treat to share with the guests and represent health, wealth, happiness, and fertility.
Dropping the Ring During Your Wedding is Not a Good Sign
Dropping the ring could be considered as being ungraceful, but it’s not at all uncommon. Those who believe in omens says that is an indication of death in the marriage, but realistically, it should just be seen as a little hiccup in the ceremony that will soon be forgotten!
Unlucky Wedding Days and Months
According to superstition, Saturday, and July are considered to be unlucky for weddings. Saturdays have been considered unlucky for a long time, mainly because they were seen as the day of Satan.
In the heat of summer, July was believed to have negative energy, which has led to it being considered unlucky for weddings.
Conclusion
When it comes to wedding superstitions, some couples choose to embrace them, while others don’t think they’re important. Whether or not you believe in them or not, there’s no denying that such traditions are a part of our rich cultural heritage.
So, if you’re ever in doubt about your wedding ceremony, consider the traditions passed down from one generation to the next and take pride in your participation in an ancient and meaningful ritual.
Good Luck Bearers on Your Wedding Day: Unique and Fun Wedding Traditions
Are you looking for some unique and meaningful ways to incorporate good luck traditions into your special day?
Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but adding a few good luck bearers is a fun way to make your wedding day even more memorable. In this article, we’ll explore three good luck bearers that you can include on your wedding day.
Sugar Cubes
In Greek culture, sugar cubes are placed in the bride’s gloves for good luck on her wedding day. The sugar is said to “sweeten” the marriage and bring happiness to the couple.
Its an affordable and simple way to incorporate good fortune into your special day. If you are not a fan of sugar cubes, you can always consider incorporating sweet treats such as candy or baked goods that can be shared with your guests at the end of the ceremony.
Horseshoes
The horseshoe has been a popular symbol of good luck for centuries, and it’s no different for weddings. Many people believe that horseshoes bring good luck and protect the couple from spirit or evil eye.
Depending on the country, the horseshoe is hung in different directions, upwards or downwards, or bent into a heart shape. In some instances, a horseshoe can be used as a prop for photography or a decoration in the venue.
It is an easy and affordable way to incorporate a good luck tradition into your wedding decorations.
Garters
Garters are usually worn by the bride, but in some cases, they could be passed down from the previous generation. The tradition originated in medieval times, when it was believed that having a piece of the bride’s clothing would bring good luck to the guests.
During the reception, the groom will remove the garter from the brides leg, and will then throw it to the unmarried guests. Whoever catches the garter is believed to be the next one to get married.
This tradition has evolved into a fun game, where guests gather around to catch the garter, and the person who catches it gets a special dance with the bride.
Other Good Luck Bearers
In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are other good luck bearers that can be incorporated into your wedding day. Here are a few more traditions to consider:
- The Silver Sixpence: If you are from the UK, inserting a silver sixpence in your shoe is considered to bring good fortune.
- A variation of this tradition includes putting a penny, dime, or any other coin of significance under the shoe of the bride or groom.
- Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue: This tradition is a famous good luck custom that has been upheld by many brides.
- Something old represents the couple’s past, something new represents the couple’s future, something borrowed represents borrowed happiness, and something blue represents purity, love, and fidelity.
- Rain on Your Wedding Day: Similar to snow on Christmas day, a light shower or downpour on wedding day is considered to be a good omen, signifying the washing away of bad luck before the start of a new life.
- If the skies do open up on your wedding day, make sure to have umbrellas on-hand and you may even get some beautiful and iconic wedding photos.
Final Thoughts
Incorporating good luck traditions on your wedding day is a wonderful way to celebrate your heritage, add unique and special touch to your day and keeping it fun and engaging for your guests. Whether you want to incorporate ancient and significant traditions or like the idea of fun games and keepsakes, there are a variety of good luck bearers that you can include in your special day.
Remember, it’s your day, so feel free to put your own spin on things and choose the customs that resonate with you. In conclusion, incorporating good luck traditions into your wedding day can bring a unique, fun, and meaningful touch to your special day.
Whether you choose to use sugar cubes to sweeten your marriage, horseshoes to ward off evil spirits, or garters to play a fun game, embracing these good luck bearers can make your wedding day even more memorable. Additionally, whether you choose to adopt ancient traditions or create new ones to suit your style, keep in mind that its your day, and what matters most is that you celebrate your love and happiness with meaningful customs and traditions.
