Wedding Traditions Revealed

A Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe?

Have you ever wondered where some of wedding’s traditions and rituals have come from? And what is their significance? What does “tie the knot” mean? Why is the bride always on the left? And those candy-coated almonds that sit at every guest’s place setting; what are those about?

Everyone knows the four line wedding rhyme, but what does it really mean?

Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue.

But do you know the fifth, less famous line? Well, the line is “wears a silver sixpence in her shoe.

If you do know it, do you know where it originates? The entire rhyme comes from the Victorian Era and almost every bride has complied with it because they fear bad luck for their marriage if they don”t. It is said that if you follow the rhyme that it is a way of insurance for future happiness.

Now, let’s take the rhyme line by line.

• Something old refers to continuity. A happily married woman, usually a close friend of the bride, would give the bride a garter to wear. Apparently the garter had the power to transfer happiness from the giver to the bride. This tradition represents a link from the bride’s old life to her new family.
• Something new symbolizes the future prosperity of the newlyweds. Most times the “new” is the bride’s gown. But according to tradition it can be anything of the bride’s choosing.
• Something borrowed helps ensure the couple’s future happiness. But only with the item borrowed being returned to its owner after the ceremony. The borrowed item should be from the bride’s family.
• Something blue represents modesty, love and fidelity. Evidently in early biblical times, the color blue signified purity. Decades ago, white meant purity.
• A silver sixpence in her shoe refers to happiness and wealth for the newlyweds. A sixpence was presented to the bride from the groom as a token of his love.

Wedding Traditions Explained

Bridal Shower – The shower began in Holland. If the bride’s father didn’t agree with or approve of the groom, he wouldn’t provide her a dowry. The bride’s friends would then “shower” her with gifts. Then the bride would have her dowry and could marry the man of her choice. Dowries have vanished but showers and gifts still remain.

Hidden Behind the Veil – There are three thoughts behind the bride’s veil. The first is that the veil was meant to disguise the bride from evil spirits. In Roman times, brides were thought to be vulnerable to evil spirits that hovered during the wedding day.