Wedding Superstitions Explained

General 5 Minutes

[Since June is prime bridal season, I brought an article, written in 2021, detailing and explaining 13 wedding traditions.]

In 2021, there are truly no ‘rules’ to weddings—anything and everything goes, as long as it brings you happiness as a couple. That said, there is a reason why time-honored traditions have been mainstays of wedding days for so long: They’re guidelines that so many generations before you have indulged, historically, so it feels kind of like a nice privilege to entertain them at your own wedding celebration, right?

The cool thing about weddings now, though, is that you can pick and choose which customs and conventions you want to embrace or dismiss. Not wearing white, skipping the veil, sneaking a peek at your spouse before the ceremony—it can all be done without repercussions.

Whether you consider yourself superstitious or not, you might still want to take a few of these folklore referrals to heart. Ahead, read up on some of the longest-standing wedding superstitions that go well beyond something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. 

Getting married on a weekday.

While Saturdays have long been the most popular days to get married for decades, an ancient Celtic poem claims couples should avoid a Saturday wedding at all costs. It reads: “Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all.” So if a Saturday nuptials isn’t in the cards, then a weekday wedding is quite alright!

Wearing white.

Wearing white on the day you get married is a dress code that dates back thousands of years and this verse explains why: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

Wearing something borrowed.

Out of the four “somethings” that brides have been conditioned to carry, “something borrowed” makes the most sense when it comes to luck! The idea here is that in addition to wearing something old and new, representing your pre-married life and your happy one to come, you should also borrow something from a happily married woman (your mom, mother-in-law, sister, grandmother, etc.). It’s thought that wearing something on loan from a long-married missus might just let some of her marital success rub off on you!

Forgoing any pearl accessories.

Speaking of something borrowed, although they’re very common family heirlooms, pearls are one semi-precious gemstone that you might want to pass on if they’re offered. According to several cultural belief systems, pearls embody the look of tears and point to sadness and suffering, so it’s best to keep them away from such an important day. If your partner proposes with a pearl, however, it stands that you can rebalance the karma by giving them a dollar—in essence, by paying for it, the ring is no longer a gift. 

Including a sixpence in your shoe.

What most people don’t know about one of the oldest and most iconic wedding proverbs is that it is completed with the phrase “and a sixpence in her shoe.” Dating back to Victorian times, a father would place a sixpence (a coin equivalent to six pennies) in his daughter’s shoe as a token of good luck and prosperity. Nowadays, a penny is usually subbed in for the sixpence from any family member or friend. And if you don’t want to squeeze a coin in your stiletto, consider tying it to your bouquet or ring bearer’s pillow instead.

Adding a veil to your ensemble.

Veils have been part of the bride’s traditional trousseau for centuries. But to ancient Greeks and Romans, the veil was for function rather than fashion. They believed that a bride needed to wear a veil to make her less susceptible to the curses and hexes of jealous witches and evil spirits who wanted to steal her happiness. Once her face was obscured, so too were their vexes.

Crying all the way to the altar.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bride or groom who doesn’t shed at least a few tears on their wedding day, but that’s actually a good thing. In fact, crying all the tears is a tried-and-true method of making sure you’re happy for the long haul. Once you’ve let the waterworks run, they’ll be as good as gone for the entirety of your marriage.

Saying farewell to your fiancée-ship a little too prematurely.

Using your married name before the actual wedding is kind of taboo ahead of tying the knot. There are a lot of negative, foreboding feelings associated with these anticipatory celebrations (like signing letters with your soon-to-be last name), ultimately suggesting that doing so will prevent the event from taking place altogether. And it doesn’t stop there, folklore also warns against trying on everything you’ll be wearing on your wedding day (dress, veil, shoes, headpieces, jewelry) before the day itself comes. So, if you plan on dressing or suiting up pre-wedding, just remember to leave one or two articles of clothing off.

Crossing paths with a nun or monk on the way to the wedding.

The British backstory goes that if you see a nun or a monk (both of whom notably take vows of chastity and poverty) en route to your wedding, you’ll be blighted with a barren life and dependent on charity. Granted, not every couple envisions a future with children and some prefer simplicity and experiences over money and material things, so this does suppose a pretty antiquated point of view.

Dropping the rings.

There is a timeworn forewarning that should someone drop a ring or ring(s) at the time of the ceremony, that person (regardless of role—bride, groom, officiant, best man, etc.) is next to die. Scary, right? Well, we can pretty much guarantee that there’s no truth to it, but you might just want to double-check how tightly those rings are tied on the ring bearer’s pillow and take your time with the ring swap.

Receiving knives for a wedding gift.

We’re well aware that a sharp set of knives is a common registry item. However, according to a legend that dates back to the Vikings, knives symbolize the cutting or breaking of a relationship. You truly never know what your wedding guests will end up bringing you for the big day, but if you want to hedge your bets on not receiving something like this heartbreak-ridden hardware, maybe just remove it from the registry altogether. Or, send your guests a penny enclosed in their thank you card to switch the script from a gift to a purchase!

A spider showing up on your attire.

Most people don’t enjoy spotting a spider, but if one shows up on your wedding outfit on the big day, just grin and bear it. English tradition holds that if a spider weaves its way into your wedding day, it’s a terrific and radiant omen; so, come through Charlotte! 

Rain on your wedding day.

Rain on your wedding day is something that all couples will stress over, but according to several cultures’ canons, it represents a streak of luck for your special day. If you see dark clouds gathering and raindrops coming down, don’t fret as you’re getting wet: It symbolizes fertility and cleansing, and if ever there were a perfect day to start with a clean slate, it’s your wedding day.

Source: Danielle Halibey

Published on 04/16/21

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Published by pat frederick

Published

171 thoughts on “Wedding Superstitions Explained”

  5. Brenden Dilley
    @WarlordDilley
    Dear Team DeSantis,

    You branded him wrong. Who you want him to be is not consistent with who he actually is.

    You underestimated the internet and its ability to discern and dissect a candidate.

    The only way to have competed was to own who he is and accentuate that. Anything else was destined to fail.

    Rob isn’t tough. He’s not charismatic or funny. He’s a serious, weird, dry candidate who is massively insecure.

    His wife dominates him. He’s unsure about himself, which is why he dresses funny.

    You presented him as a fake Trump, and now, in six short months, you blew four years of political capital bestowed upon him by President Trump.

    Better luck next time.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Liked by 1 person

  11. Citizen 817
    Citizen 817
    June 5, 2023 1:05 am

    @realDonaldTrump

    3h
    Reports are the Marxist Special Prosecutor, DOJ, & FBI, want to Indict me on the BOXES HOAX, despite all of the wrongdoing that they have done for SEVEN YEARS, including SPYING ON MY CAMPAIGN. Biden Crimes go unpunished, including that he had Boxes in Chinatown, in his garage by the “Corvette,” & 1,850 Boxes in Delaware that he won’t allow anyone to see. That is real OBSTRUCTION! They seek retribution for Republicans looking into Biden’s CRIMES! I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. ELECTION INTERFERENCE!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. trying the sympathy ploy here…they suspended student loans for almost 3 yrs–allowing them to SAVE $15,000 (approx) but ,ow that they are to resume—they’re crying poverty. because of inflation. how about those who didn’t get to pause one of their monthly expenses for 3 frickin’ years? they still have to deal with inflation. and they’re not making $100,00 A YEAR!
    FTA
    The single mother of two has seen all her expenses rise over the last few years amid high inflation. “I go grocery shopping and spend $300 or $400 for food that’ll last two weeks in my house,” said Brooks, 35. Her mother recently moved in with her because she doesn’t earn enough as an office manager to afford the rents in Los Angeles, where they live.

    Although Brooks earns around $100,000 as a high school principal, her student loan balance is at nearly $240,000. She’s already calculated what her new payment will be.

    “With an extra $600 a month, where is that going to come from?” Brooks said.

    Millions of other people are likely asking a similar question.

    The more than three-year-long pause on federal student loan payments is slated to finally conclude within months. The Biden administration is preparing borrowers for their payments to resume by September, even while its loan forgiveness program is halted as the Supreme Court debates its validity. The debt ceiling deal passed by Congress also includes a provision officially terminating the pandemic-era relief policy and making it harder for the U.S. Department of Education to extend it.

    “The emergency period is over, and we’re preparing our borrowers to restart,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said at a Senate hearing last month.
    Average borrower saved $15,000 due to payment pause

    Former President Donald Trump first announced the stay on federal student loan bills and the accrual of interest in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hit the U.S. and crippled the economy. The pause has since been extended eight times.

    Nearly all people eligible for the relief have taken advantage of it, with less than 1% of qualifying borrowers continuing to make payments on their education debt, according to an analysis by higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

    As a result of the policy, the average borrower likely saved around $15,000 in student loan payments, Kantrowitz said. The typical monthly bill is just under $350 a month.

    https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/06/04/student-loan-payments-will-restart-soon-many-borrowers-arent-ready.html

    Liked by 1 person

        1. I would need to take that thing off the front bottom. it would scrape going across the stream…LOL
          UNLESS i put in a ramp and crossed it Dukes of Hazzard style

          Liked by 1 person

  21. hmmmmmmmm…is this true?
    I donate an organ and the hospital SELLS IT?
    oh hell no

    William Gaynor
    June 5, 2023 6:23 am

    See attached video from a Ukrainian surgeon on organ harvesting in Ukraine on LIVE soldiers and civilians. Organs are only useful if they are harvested from LIVE patients. Organs aren’t harvested from dead patients.

    If you have a designation on your driver’s license for organ donation, you need to remove it. Your organs are no good to anyone if you are dead and aren’t sale-able if you are dead. Yes, they sell your organs. You’re the one who donates them free of charge.

    KHAZARIAN MAFIA’S MOST LETHAL INTERNATIONAL CRIME SYNDICATE EXPOSED

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have donor marked on my DL – what do I care? But I seriously doubt there would be anything worth saving and passing on anyway…LOL – I intend to be cremated anyway….

      Liked by 1 person

  23. we got a lot of outside stuff done at mom’s this weekend…hubby painted her railings for her (the neighbor friend and my cousin had been fighting over who should do it. last time it was done, she paid $200 to have it done. hubby said helllllllll no…i’ll do it.)
    I brought geraniums and top soil and planted them in her flower circle which hadn’t had flowers for 3 years–she liked that.
    then I helped her clean the shelves that were too high for her in the kitchen and pantry and too low in her bedroom. she was really happy about that.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. we went to our son’s house yesterday and dropped off the auger. their dog, Abby, is now about a year and a half old–has been “fixed” and has calmed down tremendously. my son said Abby, give Grandma a hug. I was standing next to her and she took her paw and tapped my leg–son said that means come down to her level. so I squatted down. she gently placed one paw on one shoulder and the other paw on my other shoulder and leaned in…LOL
      then she licked my face.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. OMG—that reminds me. on the way home yesterday we heard an ad for DRAG BINGO at a little fire station somewhere. this would be almost middle PA…so not a big liberal area I would think…
      couldn’t believe it

      Liked by 1 person

    1. SMH – surely Charlie Kirk should know the correct pronunciation of “lackadaisical?” No, Charlie, it is NOT “laxadaisical!” Same thing that drives me nuts about blacks always saying “wich” or “wid” instead of “with!” And “axe” instead of “ask!” Idiots!!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  32. Like

  38. this from a comment at tcth
    dutchman
    June 5, 2023 10:08 am
    …
    HOW can we even HAVE “3 Co-equal branches of Federal Government” when one (Judicial) has lifetime appointments, the second (Legislative) thru ‘gaming the system’ effectively has the same, and yet the 3rd (Executive) has 8 years max. term limits.

    Rather than pointless calls for term limits for Congress, I would argue repeal the 22nd, as a bad idea that hamstrings the Presidency.

    Many have coined the term “the Imperial Presidency” and advanced arguments that the Executive has aquired too much power, BECAUSE they are focusing on the power of THE ADMINISTRATIVE STATE, which they (mistakenly, in my view) associate with the POTUS.

    POTUS “can’t fire” the career buerocrats, can’t hire administrators (without going thru the abused “advice and consent” process which amounts to the Senate dictating who he can and can’t have) and it is CONgress that detirmines both the budget for departments, and the compensation packages of buerocrats.

    And, thru “oversight” it is CONGRESS, not the President, that can “discipline” and even has the threat of impeachment over administrators.

    But,….they “work” FOR the POTUS?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. No, they don’t work FOR POTUS – they are SUPPOSED to work for the States….and I cannot agree with a repeal of the 22nd. A more appropriate solution would be to eliminate the “Senior Executive Service” within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and totally eliminate the public/civil employees’ Union.

      The solution is not to give MORE power but to LESSEN the power of Congress AND the President, and send it back to the States, where it was intended!!! And yes, institute term limits for ALL public employees – they are NOT pointless!

      How about we repeal the 16th Amendment and remove the power to collect taxes, eh? Sounds like a much better idea to me…oh, and while we’re at it….repeal the 14th Amendment or, at a minimum, revise it to require at LEAST one US citizen parent in order to be naturalized at birth on US soil….and clarify that “natural born citizen” requires that BOTH parents be US citizens at the time of birth on US soil….oh, and while we’re at it… well, I could go on all day…..

      Liked by 1 person

  39. I went out to do my morning walk-a-bout – something chewed thru one of the clematis vines on the trellis (the one I thought had died) but the vine that came up under the pot is still there….I’m thinking a rabbit, maybe….and the bloom on the other one is just like the one in front – white, with pale lilac on the edges…I SURE hope they turn yellow eventually, as advertised!!!

    Knife in hand to cut that asparagus spear that’s ready, and – of course! – I got sidetracked pulling the weeds from the bird seed in the flower bed – it’s right next to the asparagus bed!!! – saving the CA poppies where I could…got most of it done, about 1/4 left to go but I had sweats on, a t-shirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a hoodie so once I started sweating….I decided it was time to do the pruning on the peach tree. So, onto the patio to remove at least 2 layers, then to the shed….pruners, loppers and tree-saw in hand. Now I have a bunch of limbs to move…

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Outstanding! And my new trackball cordless mouse I ordered from BestBuy should be delivered today via FedEx. I just finally got used to the corded one again! LOL – won’t take long to get used to the new one, tho, since that’s what I’ve used for at least 7-8 years now!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. which means to say, you’ve done so much today and I’m just sitting here…LOL
      well, I’ve changed the linens, did 3 loads of laundry and boxed up all the stuff we brought home from mom’s

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh, I have no doubt that you are NOT sitting there doing nothing…I’ll take the weeds over laundry any day! Speaking of which….I’m running out of clean undies and capris that won’t fall down around my knees. I need to do laundry, too, and Matt just mowed the neighbor’s yard so I don’t have to worry about that – it’s a beautiful day, altho getting warm. I just might do some laundry after all and hang it out on the line for a change! I’m into my 3rd day of the amoxicillin with no change that I can tell…but it’s early, I guess. My upper jaw in front is still numb…same deep ache when I put pressure above my gums.

        BTW, the silicone chiffon cake pan was a bust for the jelly feeder – I’m going to send it to you to use in some of your creations! LOL

        Liked by 1 person

  43. Insurrection Barbie
    @DefiyantlyFree
    Now we know why Wray is fighting like hell not to allow Comer access to the document detailing Biden’s crimes. The informant is a highly credible FBI source from the Obama era. Which means that @dbongino
    was right again. The FBI or Biden’s khaki pants knew there were credible allegations and ignored it.

    Now they are stonewalling to protect the crime syndicate that is the Biden family.

    Thanks GOP for giving them all that extra funding.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Like

  45. Pat, did you read the open I did at M’s on Saturday? I didn’t have that idea in mind when I wrote a REALLY long comment about “repurposing” stuff and M asked me if I had something for Saturday for her so….I turned the comment into an open….🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Liked by 1 person

    1. ooops…he balked again…so now they will file contempt charges on THURSDAY…wth is wrong with FILING THEM IMMEDIATELY…another few days…then it’ll be the weekend…then we gotta wait till monday…
      my momma used to say…SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT

      Liked by 1 person

      1. j x
        June 5, 2023 1:52 pm

        🚨 BREAKING: “The FBI again refused to hand over the unclassified record to the custody of the House Oversight Committee — and we will now initiate contempt of Congress hearings this Thursday,” says Chairman @JamesComer. pic.twitter.com/EHlsz7ZzpI

        — RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 5, 2023

        Liked by 1 person

  48. just bringing the headline…didn’t hitlery say something similar in 2016…if he wins, we all hang?
    so pumping up the usual suspects to go after trump?

    James Comey — If Trump wins, he could put us in prison…
    (a cfp story)

    Liked by 1 person

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