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Most of us have heard, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe." The bride is supposed to have all these items on her person during her wedding. But why? There are lots of wedding traditions and superstitions that date back hundreds or even thousands of years.
Many believe that the custom of having attendants dates back to when brides were captured by their husbands. The groomsmen helped with the abduction; the bridesmaids tried to protect the bride. The bride was carried over the threshold so she wouldn't run away! Another, more recent, explanation is one born of superstition. It was believed that evil spirits could be fooled if the bride and groom were surrounded by friends dressed just like them.
Wedding showers come from times when marriage was more economically based. For centuries it was customary for grooms to buy their brides from her parents. Often the bride was expected to contribute a sizable dowry of her own. Showers were a way of showering the bride or groom with what they needed to be able to afford the wedding transaction.
Tossing rice or other grains is an ancient practice from many cultures. The grain represents prosperity and fertility. Eating together is also an old custom. In some cultures, the sharing of food was the whole wedding ceremony. One superstition involving the wedding cake was that if the bride kept a bit of the wedding cake she would assure the continued fidelity of her husband.
Tossing the bouquet originated as a way to keep guests from ripping up the bride's gown. Because the bride was lucky enough to be getting married, her gown was considered a good luck charm. Wedding guests would rip off pieces of it to share in her fortune. First easily-removed ribbons were sewn on the dress. Eventually all the good luck was focused on the bouquet.
The something borrowed, something blue tradition dates back to Victorian times. Something old was meant to remind the bride of her connection with her own family and past. Something new was supposed to bring her good fortune in her new life. Something borrowed assured her that her family and friends would still help and support her after she was married. And something blue represented faithfulness. The silver sixpence in her shoe was meant to insure her future prosperity.
Whether you adhere to the old traditions and superstitions or not, it's fun to look back and see how far into the past the legacy stretches. Every wedding contains something old, something new and plenty that's borrowed from other times and cultures.
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