Reviving Old Traditions

for Festive Modern Day Celebrations

There are some traditions, like exchanging rings and throwing the bridal bouquet, that remain central to the wedding ceremony.

But there are other customs that have been tossed to the wayside by a generation or two of brides and grooms.
Make your 21st century celebration stand out from the crowd by incorporating these ancient traditions into your wedding plans:

Make it a full moon – in June!

There is an old belief that getting married on the day of a full moon will bring you good luck − and hopefully, aid in conception efforts. And, historically, June was a particularly good month to “tie the knot,” as a fall pregnancy and spring birth wouldn’t interfere with the bride’s ability to assist with the harvest. Also, a bright, sunny wedding day was said to bring good fortune to the couple, while a rainy day guaranteed a short, rather unsatisfactory marriage. Although June continues to be a popular month for weddings, it’s probably safe to say that the reasons have changed.

Have fun with superstitions

Perhaps the most widely known wedding day saying is, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence inside your shoe.”

Although this superstition about what a lucky bride should carry along on her wedding day has been around for a long time (a few hundred years or so), today it’s more of an afterthought than a heartfelt belief. But it might be worth planning ahead for this wedding day ritual.

For “something old,” loved ones who are attending the ceremony will fit the bill (or a small item with some family history). “Something new” is your union as a married couple − and can be symbolized by practically any recently purchased item that you’re wearing. “Something borrowed” should be a belonging on loan from the bride or groom’s family, such as the mother’s bridal gown or veil, whereas “something blue” could be just about anything, as long as it’s blue – even a simple stitch of blue material tucked out of sight. And a “silver sixpence” – thought to bring good fortune in the form of love and financial prosperity – may take the form of a penny hidden in the bottom of the bride’s shoe.

Carry a bride’s handkerchief

The traditional wedding day hanky is the perfect family heirloom to pass from mother to daughter through the generations. This age-old custom began as a superstition amongst farmers that a bride’s wedding day tears would usher in a bountiful crop, a belief that was later replaced by the saying that a woman who cried on her wedding day would enjoy a happy marriage. Nowadays, the bride’s handkerchief symbolizes the tears of joy that are shed on her special day.

Wear a veil

Although veils are thought to have come on the scene for somewhat sinister reasons, including the hope of confusing evil spirits who may have been lurking around, they’ve adopted a more optimistic, decorative role in recent years. From “blushers” to long, trailing veils, today’s bride has dozens of choices when it comes to the style of her headpiece. But if you want to take the more traditional (and dramatic) route, find a veil that can be worn over your face and lifted by your groom at the alter.

Tie shoes (and cans) to “the getaway car”

Shoes have been used throughout wedding history for a myriad of purposes, from showing male dominance to spreading good will. Depending upon the century and country in which you were married, your wedding guests may have wished you good luck by throwing shoes at either you or your carriage. Now we simply tie them behind our cars and watch them bounce down the street. By the same token, you may have seen cans rattling behind newlyweds’ cars. This custom is thought to originate from olden times when guests would tie noisy items to the back of the newly married couple’s carriage to ward off evil spirits. Whatever the historical origins, it’s a fun and festive way to hit the road!

Wear two garters − one to keep and one to toss

While the tossing of the garter is believed to have begun in the 1500s, its modern day meaning − whoever catches the garter will be the next to wed − appears to have taken shape in England, where the bridal party would rush the bridal chamber and take turns tossing the ladies’ stockings in the air. The person whose stocking landed on the bride or groom’s nose would be the next to “tie the knot.” Nowadays, the groom gets to do the tossing, and brides often choose to wear a second garter to keep as a memento.

Carry her over the threshold

In days of yore, grooms are said to have carried their brides over the threshold for one of two reasons − to force the poor, recently captured girl into her new abode or to keep feisty family demons from following the young bride into her bridegroom’s home. Neither purpose was terribly romantic. Today, this well-known tradition still carries with it a note of chivalry but is certainly a more amorous gesture than it may have been in ancient times.

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Amanda Kuhnert, personal historian and owner of Fourfold Legacy Services, helps couples share and preserve their Wedding Stories through customized interviews that are digitally recorded and combined with music and photos to create a family keepsake. www.fourfoldlegacy.com 802-371-9777

Photo by Doug Todd Photography

Vermont Bride Magazine - Vermont's Most Trusted Wedding Resource Since 1990

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