No matter how modern you perceive society to be, there’s still room for deep-seated beliefs. The traditions observed today have survived families, centuries, and changes throughout the ages.
Weddings are a prime example of events where new and old ideas mix. The actual ceremony and the days leading to it are a mishmash of practices borrowed across cultures. Following or observing certain traditions can mean no harm, only eye rolling sometimes.
If you are one half of the couple or part of the wedding party, it’s worthwhile to know the meaning behind the belief.
Rain on Your Wedding Day
Rain is believed to purify and nourish everything around it. And rain falling on your big day is considered a good omen, a symbol of cleansing and fertility for the newly wedded couple. People believe that the bride won’t have to shed tears after the ceremony and throughout the marriage. In some cultures the spiritual meaning of rain on your wedding day is considered good luck because they think that it is difficult to loosen a wet knot. Similarly, the bond between the couple is stronger and longer-lasting.
Interestingly, brides are not supposed to wear pearl jewelry on the wedding day. Olden folks believe that pearls are born out of mermaid’s tears and the wearer’s marital life will be beset with heartaches and woes.
Keeping Evil Spirits at Bay
Some traditions date back to the Middle Ages and antiquity, when superstitions were rife and evil spirits are believed to wreak havoc on the lives of humans and their affairs.
- Wearing a veil—the bride’s veil aims to mislead evil forces who attempt to snatch her.
- Ringing bells—Celtic folks believe that ringing the church bells loudly will ward off evil spirits. Over time, many have incorporated two bells and a bow or flowers in their wedding invitations and related symbols of matrimony.
- Groom carrying the bride across the threshold—brides continue to be a magnet of misfortune and target of evil forces. To foil any final attempts at kidnapping, the groom has to carry her into the room after the ceremony.
Avoiding Bad Luck
It seems that the wedding superstitions center on avoiding harbingers of bad luck that can ruin the marriage ahead. You can take these don’ts with a grain of salt, which is in itself an element in Hindu weddings.
- Getting knives as gifts—knives can cut marital ties, and guests are not supposed to give them to the couple. However, the guest can include a penny, which the couple will then give back to the giver as “payment” to avert bad luck.
- Couples seeing each other before the wedding—this practice was born out of practicality. Back then, arranged marriages were a thing, and a change of mind was not a reason to call off the wedding. Nowadays, couples prefer not to cross each other’s path until the ceremony because they want added excitement and surprise.
- Dropping the ring—hold tight to your wedding bands because you don’t want to experience bad luck after you lose them. The onus lies on whoever drops the ring because they are the first to die or see the marriage crumble.
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- Donning the wedding dress for a final rehearsal—the bride is advised not to sew her dress or wear it with shoes before the ceremony. To overcome this technicality, some brides wear a lining when fitting their bridal gown for the final time.
- Seeing a pregnant woman or a person of the cloth—things can get complicated if a pregnant friend visits a bride’s home before the wedding. The bride can’t also cross paths with a nun or a monk en route to the ceremony because she’ll be cursed with a barren life.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
This line is a nod to an old English rhyme that governs the conduct of a bride for a good marriage. The Knot notes the following:
- “Something old” refers to items that protect the bride from the evil eye that causes infertility.
- “Something new” pertains to things bought store-new or received as gifts, whichever is one’s definition of new, to mean optimism.
- “Something borrowed” considers the undergarments of someone with children or happily married or family heirloom for good luck.
- “Something blue” wards off evil eye as noted above and symbolizes fidelity. This blue element can be anything on the person of the bride (e.g., dress and bouquet).
A Hand in Marriage
For their deep roots in tradition, culture, and religion, weddings are fun and nerve-wracking to organize. And you will always have a choice on which traditions to discard or adopt for your peace of mind and your families’, perhaps.
If there’s one practice you can keep and woo someone into marriage, it is giving an engagement ring to symbolize your love and commitment. This tradition of giving an engagement ring to symbolize commitment is relatively new, but it’s one for keeps.
And the top choice is always a diamond for engagement rings. Take for example a one-carat diamond in a beautiful setting that can dazzle anyone. If you aim to go big, a two-carat, 2.5-carat, or three-carat diamond is never a bad idea. When you buy engagement rings online, consider your beloved’s preference and your budget. You can also study the 4 C’s of diamonds for a more informed purchase when shopping for that one perfect ring.
Whether you believe in superstitions (pearls and all), think of them as fair warnings. You don’t want to start your marriage on the wrong foot!
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