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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… there are dozens of traditions surrounding the rites of marriage, some more bizarre than others…
OLD, NEW, BORROWED, BLUE
Probably the most famous of wedding traditions, the rhyme dates back to Victorian times, and each of the instructions is designed to bring good luck to the bride to be. Something "old" represents the bride's family, and the life she is leaving behind, whilst "something new" is the new life she's about to start. The "something borrowed" should come from a former bride, and is designed to bring the same kind of happiness to the current one, and "something blue" is a symbol of purity.
…AND A SIXPENCE IN YOUR SHOE!
The lesser-known ending of the rhyme instructs brides-to-be to carry a sixpence in their shoe on their wedding day. Uncomfortable as it sounds, it's supposed to bring wealth to your marriage, although this is one tradition that modern brides tend not to follow. Well, where would you keep a sixpence in a pair of strappy sandals?
THE VEIL
Will you be wearing a veil at your wedding? Not every bride does these days, and perhaps with good reason. It's thought that the reason brides traditionally wear veils is a relic from the days of the arranged marriage, when it was important that the groom not see his bride's face until it was too late for him to change his mind!
HORSE SHOES AND ROLLING PINS
Traditionally given to the bride on her wedding day, variations on these "good luck" symbols include wooden spoons and chimney-sweep figures. While the horse-shoe is well-known for its allegedly "lucky" properties, it's likely that rolling pins and wooden spoons as simply symbols of the bride's approaching domesticity - perhaps one reason why they're not nearly as popular as horseshoes at modern weddings!
CONFETTI
Although modern confetti, available in its vast range of colours and materials may lead you to believe that this is a relatively modern tradition, the throwing of confetti is actually an ancient ritual designed to increase fertility. In pagan times, grain was thrown on the new couple to increase the chances of a fruitful union: these days paper or rice is more common.
HONEYMOONS
The origins of the word "honeymoon" are unclear, although some think that this, too, is connected to fertility rituals. In days gone by, new brides would drink a special concoction made from honey for thirty days (or one cycle of the moon) after her wedding to increase her chances of having a male child. On the other hand, the honeymoon may have its origins in less civilised times, when men would kidnap their chosen bride and hide out with her until her family had given up the search.
THE WHITE WEDDING
Most people assume that the traditional white wedding dress is a symbol of the bride's virginity and purity. In fact, white dresses weren't a tradition at all until Queen Victoria decided to wear one to her wedding, prompting the rest of fashionable society to follow suit. Until then, brides simply wore their best dress for the big day, regardless of its colour.
CARRYING THE BRIDE OVER THE THRESHOLD
It would be very unlucky for a new bride to fall as she entered her new home after her wedding - and just as unlucky (according to tradition) if she were to enter the house left-foot-first. Far safer for her to be carried over the threshold, then - and another wedding tradition is born!
