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The Weird, the Wonderful and the Wacky
Halloween is just around the corner, what better time to take a look at the weird and wonderful world of wedding traditions and superstitions. There are some very odd old beliefs in the world of weddings, we advise taking with a pinch of salt!
Strange marriage omens, unlucky gifts, spiders and evil spirits... who knew weddings were so spooky!
Your Wedding Veil is actually to wardoff evil spirits.
Ancient Greek and Roman tradition statesthat wearing a wedding veil helps to wardoff evil spirits intent on cursing the bride...
The veil was supposed to hidethe bride's face fromdemons and witches— with a veil over her head they couldn't see her, and so couldn't curse her. Gives a whole other meaning to wearing aveil... We still think they are simply beautiful.
Is your wedding gift list cursed?
Knives have long been known to signify a broken relationship, and are notoriouslybad luck to give as a wedding present. But don’t panic if knives are on your gift list,just be sure to give the gift giver a penny. That way it's considered a purchase. Phew!!
Put a Spider in Your dress.
Yep, this is actually good luck! We know that finding an eight legged friend inside your dress may not be top of your priority list duringyour bridal prep, (and would horrify many) but a spider found inside your dress is actually considered a “best of luck” omen...
Wedding dress colour superstitions
The majority of brides still choose to wear white on their wedding day (a colour traditionally chosen to signify purity), but with so many colour options out there now we thought we better fill you in on an age old poem about the colour of your wedding dress... Whether you choose to believe it is up to you.
We think you all look great in any colour!
Scroll on for real life wedding proof to see some of our brides non traditional wedding dress choices including rocking black wedding dresses
Married in white, you will have chosen all right.
Married in grey, you will go far away.
Married in black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead.
Married in blue, you will always be true.
Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl.
Married in green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow.
Married in brown, you’ll live out of town.
Married in pink, your spirits will sink.
The Little photo company
Rosie Kelly
Carried over the threshold
In ancient cultures, the threshold of the home was considered to be a hotbed of lurking, unattached evil spirits, and since a new bride was particularly vulnerable to spirit intrusion, (especially through the soles of her feet!!)The groom would traditionally carrythe brideover the threshold to make surehis wife didn'tbring any bad spirits into the house...
The day that you choose to marry...
Yes, even the day you marry is full of secret meaning. According to English FolkloreWednesday wasconsidered the "best day" to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health. They say Saturday is the unluckiest day of the week to marry, but it'sactually the most popular these days so we're not sure about that!
Henna for protection
Middle eastern couple's adorn themselves with beautiful Henna patterns on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the “evil eye”.
Wedding Bells
Ringing the Church bells for a wedding is a long-standing traditionto signify a marriage is taking place, and again after the ceremony to announce to the local population that the couple isnow one. Medieval myth also suggests bells were sounded to scare away any evil forces lurking close by...
If you marry at Elmore and are superstitious you can always giveour bells alittle ring on your way out...
Don’t look in the mirror just before you marry...
It is said that a bride who looks in the mirror wearing her complete wedding outfit would leave part of herself in the reflection and so would not be capable of giving all of herself to her new husband...
If you're worried about getting stuck in the mirror for all eternity, there’s a pretty simple solution to work around this superstition, just take off an earring or bracelet before you have a last glance. Bingo!
Who knew that wedding traditions had such a dark side?! Interesting to note how few of these centre around the Groom. Have you found any groom superstitions? We'd love to hear them!
Lots of love,
Team E x
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As an enthusiast and expert in wedding traditions and superstitions, I find the article "The Weird, the Wonderful and the Wacky" to be a fascinating exploration of the unique customs surrounding weddings. The information presented aligns with my extensive knowledge of cultural practices and historical beliefs related to marriage ceremonies.
Let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article:
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Wedding Veil as Protection from Evil Spirits: The article mentions an ancient Greek and Roman tradition that advocates wearing a wedding veil to ward off evil spirits. This practice is rooted in the belief that by covering the bride's face, demons and witches would be unable to see and curse her.
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Unlucky Gifts and the Knife Tradition: The tradition of considering knives as a bad omen and a potential sign of a broken relationship is discussed. However, the article provides a remedy: if knives are on your gift list, giving the gift giver a penny is believed to transform it into a purchase and avert bad luck.
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Good Luck Spider in the Dress: An interesting superstition is mentioned where finding a spider inside the wedding dress is considered a symbol of good luck. Despite the initial shock it may cause, the article suggests that this unexpected visitor is seen as an auspicious omen.
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Wedding Dress Color Superstitions: The article presents an age-old poem that associates different colors of wedding dresses with various outcomes in married life. Each color, such as white, grey, black, red, blue, pearl, green, yellow, brown, and pink, is believed to bring different fortunes to the newlyweds.
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Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold: The custom of carrying the bride over the threshold is explored in the context of ancient cultures, where the threshold was considered a vulnerable space for unattached evil spirits. The groom's act is seen as a protective measure to prevent the bride from bringing any bad spirits into the home.
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Choosing the Wedding Day: The article touches on the significance of the day chosen for the wedding. According to English Folklore, Wednesday was considered the "best day" to marry, Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, and Saturday as the unluckiest day, although it remains popular in modern times.
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Henna for Protection: Middle Eastern couples are mentioned to adorn themselves with Henna patterns on their hands and feet as protection from the "evil eye." This practice reflects the cultural significance of Henna in warding off negative influences.
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Wedding Bells: The tradition of ringing church bells to signify a marriage and scare away evil forces is highlighted. The article mentions the historical significance of this practice in announcing the union to the local population.
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Mirror Superstition: A superstition is introduced where a bride who looks in the mirror wearing her complete wedding outfit is believed to leave part of herself in the reflection. To avoid this, a simple solution is suggested—removing an earring or bracelet before the final glance.
The article provides a captivating glimpse into the diverse and sometimes mysterious world of wedding traditions and superstitions, offering readers a mix of historical insights and quirky beliefs. If you have any questions or would like further details on specific aspects, feel free to ask!
