Superstitions: More Than Just Black Cats
By Angela Ash
Many of the things that we say and do today are dictated by century-old superstitions that are eternally embedded in the backs of our minds. This is even the case with your special day. Why do people throw rice at your head when you walk out of the church or chapel? Why should you limp about with a penny sliding around in your shoe? Why would you wear something blue when your wedding colors are pink and white?
Well, here are a few explanations from all over the world… to prove yet again that our past plays much more prominent role in our future than we like to admit.
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW...
Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in your shoe .
This rhyme originated in Victorian times, although some claim that it is actually much older.
The "something old" represents the couple’s friends, who will hopefully remain close during the marriage.
The "something new" is a symbol of the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.
The "something borrowed" is often lent by the bride's family, and is an item to be valued. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck.
The custom of the bride wearing "something blue" originated in ancient Israel, where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity.
The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couple’s married life.
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony.
In the past, the bride would not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides would leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it was time to leave for the ceremony.
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Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to spirits, and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection. The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. It was thought that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit malevolent spirits. |
Flowers have always been used for decoration at weddings.
Some people choose the flowers at the wedding on the basis of their symbolic meaning. For example, the orange blossom has always been associated with weddings because it signifies purity and chastity.
However, people from different regions may attach other meanings to the same flower. For example, lilies symbolize majesty to some but are thought unlucky by others because of their association with death.
The groom often chooses a flower for his buttonhole which is also in the bride's bouquet. This is a remnant from the time when a knight would wear his lady's colors to display his love.
CONFETTI
Confetti is Italian for “sweets”, which in Italy are thrown over the couple as they emerge from the church. Raisins and nuts may also be used.
Before the use of paper confetti, the married couple were showered with flowers, petals, rice, or grains. This was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple.
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After the wedding, the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance. It is traditional for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold when they enter for the first time. The reason for this is uncertain. One explanation is that the bride will be visited by bad luck if she falls when entering, so she is carried to therefore avoid any chance of falling on her own accord. An alternative is that the bride will be unlucky if she steps into the new home with the left foot first. The bride can avoid also avoid this mishap by being carried. A third explanation is that it symbolizes the old Anglo-Saxon custom of the groom stealing his bride and carrying her off.
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The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride. The couple would hide from the bride's parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for one cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.
THE BEST MAN
It was the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason.
The bridesmaids were thought to act as decoys to confuse spirits and thus protect the bride.
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Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couple makes the first cut together to symbolize their shared future. In Britain, early cakes were flat and round and contained fruit and nuts, which symbolize fertility. In the past, the custom was to throw many small cakes over the bride, in a similar way in which we throw confetti today. A modification of this custom was to crumble cake over the bride’s head. This was done to promote fertility. In Yorkshire, a plate holding a wedding cake was thrown out of the window as the bride returned to her parental home after the wedding. If the plate broke, she would enjoy a happy future with her husband but, if the plate remained intact, her future would be grim. Another old English custom was to place a ring in the wedding cake. The guest who found the ring in the piece of cake would be ensured happiness for the next year. The top tier of the cake is often kept by couple for their first anniversary. |
After the reception, the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder, where the unmarried female guests group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.
A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it over his shoulder toward the unmarried male guests. Again, the one who catches it will be the next to marry.
Wherever these ideas came from, they have made weddings to be the beautiful and ritualistic events that we hold dear to us today. But, do you still consider yourself to NOT be superstitious? Hmmm… maybe you didn’t have your fingers crossed.