I have always loved superstitions and odd traditions. If there is something strange I can do and have a semi-justified reason for doing it, I am game! Weddings are full of these and I plan to do as many as I possibly can! Today I am going to share the fun with you and give you a list of 10 funny superstitions/traditions and where they came from.
1 Bridesmaids - Bridesmaids originally dressed just like the bride to confuse evil spirits so they wouldn't know who the real bride was and wouldn't be able to curse the wedding.
2 Seeing each other before the ceremony - This one started back in the time of arranged marriages. It is also why a bride originally wore a veil. Marriages were more like business deals and the bride's family didn't want the groom backing out on the deal if he didn't like how she looked. Their solution was to not have the couple meet until the ceremony and the groom wouldn't see the bride until her unveiling when it was too late to back out no matter how much of an uggo he thought she was.
3 The bride stands on the groom's left during a Christian ceremony - Back in sword wielding days this left the grooms right hand free to pull out his sword and fight off anyone else interested in his wife to be.
4 - Bridesmaids who want to dream of their future husbands should put pieces of wedding cake that have been passed through the brides wedding ring under their pillow.
5 Carrying the bride over the threshold - This I found a lot of reasons for, but my favorite was the threshold of the home was packed with evil spirits and if a bride tripped on her way in it would bring back luck to the marriage and home. So the groom carries her over the threshold to avoid the possibility of her tripping.
6 A bride should take a final look in the mirror before she leaves her house for the ceremony for good luck, but don't look in a mirror again before the ceremony or it will become bad luck!
7 Whichever one of the newlyweds purchases something first after the wedding will be the more dominant force in the marriage. I read that some brides buy some small token off of a bridesmaid right after the ceremony so they are first!
8 A bride should exit her house from the front door and step out right foot first on her way to the ceremony.
9 Knives as gifts - It is bad luck to give knives as gifts because it will sever the relationship. If you have the person receiving the gift give you a coin as payment it has then been bought from you and is no longer a gift. ;)
10 Can't pick a date? Here are some rhymes that may help you not pick the wrong one.
"Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind & 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 & 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.
Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all, Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all."
I will be doing more posts like this in the future because I just can't get enough of them!
Now don't go tripping over any thresholds!
