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19 January 2012

Wedding Superstitions

Wedding superstitions have been around for a very long time and although a lot of them have become obsolete over time, some of them have remained intact and form an integral part of the modern wedding ceremony. For example the age old rhyme ‘Something old something new’, throwing the bouquet over your shoulder and being carried over the threshold.

Here are some unusual superstitions, you probably didn’t know-

1. It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarised in the following rhyme.

   To change the name and not the letter
   Is to change for the worst and not the better
   

2. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
3. A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish. The old expression that a woman has a ‘green gown’ was used to imply promiscuity, the green staining being due to rolling in grassy fields.
4. The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stich on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
5. Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:

   Monday for wealth
   Tuesday for health
   Wednesday the best day of all
   Thursday for losses
   Friday for crosses
   Saturday for no luck at all
   

6. Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhyme:

   Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind and true.
   When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
   If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know.
   Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man.
   Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day.
   Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you’ll go.
   Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred.
   Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see
   Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
   If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
   If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
   When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
   

7. Rain on your wedding day is actually considered good luck, according to Hindu tradition! Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
8. Most brides today marry in white which is supposed to symbolise virginity. But In ancient times, cloth was very expensive to bleach and more than one bleaching was required to achieve the desired effect. Therefore the whiter the cloth, the more affluent the bride’s family.The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress colour:

   Married in White, you have chosen right,
   Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
   Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
   Married in Brown, you will live in town,
   Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
   Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
   Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
   Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
   Married in Grey, you will go far away,
   Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
   

9. A combination of red and white flowers is avoided by the superstitious because they stand for blood and bandages.