Wedding
Traditions
Something
Old
Something New
Something Borrowed
Something Blue
and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.
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This good luck saying
dates back to Victorian times and many brides try to arrange
their wedding attire accordingly.
Something Old represents the link with the bride's family and
the past. Many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family
jewelry or a mother's or grandmother's wedding gown.
Something New represents good fortune and success in the bride's
new life. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item.
Something Borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family
will be there for her when help is needed. The borrowed object
might be something such as a lace handkerchief.
Something Blue is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Often
the blue item is the garter.
A Tradition of a Silver Sixpence in
her Shoe is to wish the bride wealth.
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The Wedding Ring
The Western tradition practice
of wearing a Wedding Ring on the third finger (not including the
thumb) began in Greece in the third century B/C. The Greeks believed
that there was a vein, named the "vein of love," that ran from
what we now call the Ring finger directly to the heart. As a result,
they place the ring that symbolized love on that finger.
Later, the Romans, adopting Greek science, copied the custom and
took it one step further. Roman physicians used their ring fingers
to stir medicine, believing that since the ring finger was connected
to the heart, it could detect toxicity.
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The Bouquet
At its inception, the bouquet
formed part of the wreaths and garlands worn by both the bride
and groom. It was considered a symbol of happiness. Today the
practice of tossing the bouquet is an offshoot of throwing the
garter. The single woman who catches the bouquet is believed to
be the next to marry.
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The Garter
Throwing the garter began
in France when pieces of the bridal attire were considered lucky.
The bride would throw the garter to the guests at the wedding
and whoever caught it could expect good luck. In the United States,
the groom traditionally removes the garter from the bride and
throws it to the unmarried men. The man who catches it is thought
to be the next to marry. At some weddings the man who catches
the garter will place it on the leg of the lady who caught the
bouquet or they may start the next dance. It is also common for
the recipients of the bouquet and garter to have a photograph
taken with the bride and groom. |
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