What traditions or superstitions do you find strange?

[Kiki]

This was a fun thread in the "old spot". Do you know the background of a certain tradition or superstition that you think is just silly? What superstitions do you plan on following for your wedding?

[KathyandJer]

I don't want to see Jer before the ceremony...but I do want to talk to him.

The one superstition that I find a little strange is the one about getting married with the clock hands facing upwards. I had never heard of that before the girl at our reception venue mentioned it! And we won't be following that one :lol:

[carolinalady67]

I find them all to be a little silly. But I don't want to see Chris before the ceremony. Not because of a superstition though, just because I want that wow moment when I walk down the aisle. Not only of him seeing me but of me seeing him looking all cute and sexy in his tux.

[*meghan*]

There are a few that I think are silly, but the ones we are having include not seeing each other before the ceremony (although I do want a pic of us holding hands on opposite sides of a door before the ceremony :)), and something old, new, borrowed, and blue.

[Maria 05]

The idea of the Maid of honour having to marry the groom if the bride does a runner. Or the bride standing on the grooms left so he is able to get at his sword

[Venus]

I just heard one I had never heard of before and still dont have a clue why. I had put on my registry that we would a like a good cutting knife set, not steak knives but chopping ones. Anyway one of my friends almost freaked, she said its very bad luck to give a knife set as a wedding gift. If any one has some background on this Id love to hear it.

[-->Kat<--]

I've heard that giving knives as a gift is a sign of cutting off the relationship :dontknow:

[-->Kat<--]

Anybody doing the sixpence in the shoe?

[Deidre98]

I don't agree with the not being able to see each other for 24 hours before or not talking with each other all day. If I am nervous, usually the only person who can calm me down is Nick so not talking to him would be disasterous!!

[jillian]

The idea of the Maid of honour having to marry the groom if the bride does a runner. I never heard of that one. I should mention it to FH and MOH. They'll get a kick out of it.

[MrsAbi]

Or the bride standing on the grooms left so he is able to get at his sword

Hehe, we are doing this. But, again, Patrick is wearing a saber with his uniform. So it makes more sense.

The sixpence in the shoe just sounds painful.

[-->Kat<--]

that's how it goes... something borrowed, something blue, stick a sixpence in your shoe... how do you stick one in reception flip flops? :dontknow: :lol:

[MrsAbi]

that's how it goes... something borrowed, something blue, stick a sixpence in your shoe... how do you stick one in reception flip flops? :dontknow: :lol:

Foam flip flops? Bore a little hole in the foam part and super glue it in. :hehe:

[smiles]

A friend of mine gave me a penny to put in my shoe. It was a nice new 2005 penney.

I never understood the tradition of having a traditional recieving line. I just back everyone up and they have to wait forever to talk to people in the wedding party they don't know. We didn't have one, just us the bride and groom dismissed everyone by rows.

[Amanda&Hugo]

I did the sixpence in the shoe. I got a sixpence with the poem that went with it from a jewelry vendor at a bridal show. I just slipped it in my left shoe (it said to for "optimal luck") and left it there til arriving at the reception. When I took off the veil and changed my garter I took it out. I figure it would be a neat keepsake, in case my kids don't want to wear the expensively preserved gown or veil!! :lol:

I also wore my grandmother's rings, my great-aunt who I was very close to's hanky, and my mom's garter- until swapping it out for a toss one. I think it's nice to wear something from the people who went before you. I don't think it's a superstition really but just something sentimental.

I didn't really want to do the rice/birdseed though. That one is a bit of a turn-off to me- getting rice down the dress!

[Trinia]

I just heard one I had never heard of before and still dont have a clue why. I had put on my registry that we would a like a good cutting knife set, not steak knives but chopping ones. Anyway one of my friends almost freaked, she said its very bad luck to give a knife set as a wedding gift. If any one has some background on this Id love to hear it.

I have heard this before but the way I heard it was, If you received Knives as a wedding present you were supposed to pay (Even if its just a penny) the people who gave them to you as to not sever (sp?) your marriage.

Maybe that is why you pay them because that way you didnt receive them as a gift because you paid the person for them?

[Alice]

I just heard one I had never heard of before and still dont have a clue why. I had put on my registry that we would a like a good cutting knife set, not steak knives but chopping ones. Anyway one of my friends almost freaked, she said its very bad luck to give a knife set as a wedding gift. If any one has some background on this Id love to hear it.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knife :

In some countries it is traditionally believed that the giving of a knife as a gift to a friend will cut or sever the relationship. To avoid such ill luck, the receiver should give a coin in return so as to "pay" for the gift. It is common to include a penny, often taped to the blade, with a knife given as a gift which the receiver is to return as "payment".

I've only ever encountered this superstition w/ Squeezum's mom: every time she gives him kitchen knives or a pair of scissors or anything like that, she tapes a penny to the package.

[Alice]

I didn't really want to do the rice/birdseed though. That one is a bit of a turn-off to me- getting rice down the dress!

That one's a turn-off to me 'cuz I don't want to have kids! ;D

[Maria 05]

I just heard one I had never heard of before and still dont have a clue why. I had put on my registry that we would a like a good cutting knife set, not steak knives but chopping ones. Anyway one of my friends almost freaked, she said its very bad luck to give a knife set as a wedding gift. If any one has some background on this Id love to hear it.

Like all sharp items it can "cut love" if you are given it you are to give a coin so that you actually paid for it even if it was only a penny that way the love is not "cut"

[BASIA]

My mom keeps on telling me that I cant wear an open toe shoes to the wedding because if I do I will always be poor. I dont know where she got it from but I guess I will not wear open toe shoes. Good thinks that I found shoes that I like.!!!

[Poloke]

Anybody doing the sixpence in the shoe?

I am!!! For me its more than just the superstition, because my Nanna is from England...and had her brother send over a sixpence as soon as she found out we were engaged. :)

One superstition I've heard is that wearing pearls on your wedding day is bad luck. And that only your parents should buy you pearls, never your husband??? I dunno its some bad luck thing.

And the ones about the different days of the week- like what they mean, and also the color the bride wears is supposed to affect the luck of the marriage. Silly if you ask me.

[Trinia]

and also the color the bride wears is supposed to affect the luck of the marriage. Silly if you ask me.


I have never heard of that one, I wonder what pink means??

[-->Kat<--]

I know the days of the week thing pertaining to the birth of a child... (Monday's child is full of grace, Tuesday's child is full of face, Wednesday's child if full of woe, Thursday's child has far to go... yada yada) but not what it has to do with a wedding... care to share?

[lizaanne]

I know I won't win fans with this one, but I think all the unity candle, hand ceremony, and dirt ceremony stuff is just silly.

What could possibly be more meaningful and symbolic than promising your life to another person and exchanging rings? I don't get all the silly extras. But that's me, and I'm an old traditionalist. :)

~Liza

[nikkiana]

I always thought something borrowed, somthing old, yadda yadda was always kinda silly.... so I didn't do it. :)

[-->Kat<--]

I know I won't win fans with this one, but I think all the unity candle, hand ceremony, and dirt ceremony stuff is just silly.

What could possibly be more meaningful and symbolic than promising your life to another person and exchanging rings? I don't get all the silly extras. But that's me, and I'm an old traditionalist. :)

~Liza

So what makes exchanging rings meaningful but not the symbolism of combining two lives together into one?

[Maria 05]

I dont agree with these
"Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true;
When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate;
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know;
Marry in April when you can, joy for Maiden and for Man;
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day;
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you will go;
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred;
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see;
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine;
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry;
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember;
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last".

- "Marry in Lent, live to repent

Married in White, you have chosen right
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, you spirit will sink.

[-->Kat<--]

I like mine : Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine :D

[Maria 05]

If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember;

Im not saying its not cute but I wouldnt plan my wedding becuase of a rhyme

[-->Kat<--]

me either... I too just think it's cute


but secretly I'm glad I'm not marrying in March, May, July, or October! :laugh3: ;)

[Trinia]

Thanks for posting that Maria! Not that I beleive it but it is neat to read!

[lizaanne]

So what makes exchanging rings meaningful but not the symbolism of combining two lives together into one?

I could do without the rings exchange as well, for that matter! There have been many many weddings since the beginning of time where a couple could not afford even rings. I don't think their weddings were any less meaningful because all they had between then were the vows they spoke. I just don't see the need for symbolism. My FH and I will be a visible example of our Sacrament, we don't need anything else like candles and dirt.

I'm not saying that anyone who does this is "whatever", just that I personally don't see the point. And any weddng I've ever been to that had these things just seemed - silly. And I even had a unity candle at my ex-wedding, and even then I thought it was silly, but I was too young to voice my opinion, I just thought it was something I had to do, just because it's "always done". So glad I've grown up and know my own mind now. :)

~Liza

[-->Kat<--]

so are you not having rings or are you accepting that symbolism?

[Sk8ermaiden]

I know I won't win fans with this one, but I think all the unity candle, hand ceremony, and dirt ceremony stuff is just silly.

What could possibly be more meaningful and symbolic than promising your life to another person and exchanging rings? I don't get all the silly extras. But that's me, and I'm an old traditionalist. :)

~Liza

I agree with this. I feel like these ceremonies repeat the exact same things that the wedding vows represent; however, I know that a lot of people like them, and that they can be meaningful in blended family situations and when you really want to include your parents.

[Ally]

we're not doing a lot of the "traditional" things. Like im not going throw the bouquet or do the gater toss, in fact im not even going to wear a garter. Im also not going to do the something old/new/borrowed/blue thing. I am however not going to see FH the day of the wedding, but not for the superstition, but because i want it to mean even more when we finally get to see each other.

[lizaanne]

so are you not having rings or are you accepting that symbolism?

The exchange of rings is part of the Catholic Nuptial Mass - if it were not part of it, I wouldn't do it and wouldn't care.

~Liza

[Rebecca]

I already have my sixpence penny...going for a few traditions! I actually taped it in my shoe to make sure I do not loose it or forget it before the wedding and wore the shoes when ordering my dress recently and did not even feel it in the shoe!

[PurpleFlower]

I think some of these are kind of fun! I am going to do the something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue! It sounds kinda like fun! I think We will see each other that day before the cermony to take pics! So I want to do something special so we get good pics of us seeing eachother for the first time that day!

[Poloke]

Days of the week superstitions...

Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all

Bridal shower ...
The first gift the bride opens should be the first gift she uses.
Everything the bride says as she opens her gifts will be repeated on her wedding night. Somone should be assigned to write down these comments during the shower

The person who gives the third gift to be opened will soon have a baby.
Save the ribbons from the shower gifts to make a mock bouquet to be used at the wedding rehearsal

[Poloke]

Another goofy one:

The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die.

So, so bizarre.



Lizaanne- is the only reason you are doing the rings is because its in the nuptials mass? What if the candles were, and all that other stuff, would you be doing them then?

[-->Kat<--]

where's Sunday on the days of the week superstition? :shrug2:

[Jaci]

One superstition I've heard is that wearing pearls on your wedding day is bad luck. And that only your parents should buy you pearls, never your husband??? I dunno its some bad luck thing.

I thought it was bad luck to wear pearls given to you by your FH on your wedding, day, but if a parent or grandparent gave you pearls, it was a good thing?

[-->Kat<--]

*not wedding related* I was told that you should never wear an opal unless its your birthstone (or a gift... I think)... anybody else hear that?

[lizaanne]

I have heard that before. I had a gorgeous opal that my dad bought me when I turned 18, and someone said to me that it was bad luck to wear it if it wasn't my birthstone. I didn't really care, I wore it anyway. :)

~Liza

[KathyandJer]

*not wedding related* I was told that you should never wear an opal unless its your birthstone (or a gift... I think)... anybody else hear that?

I heard that you should never wear an opal unless it's given to you as a gift :no:

[BASIA]

I thought it was bad luck to wear pearls given to you by your FH on your wedding, day, but if a parent or grandparent gave you pearls, it was a good thing?


I heard that you should not wear pearls (or accept) given to you by anyone ever, not only on your wedding day. The only pearls that you can have are the ones that you buy yourself!

[Maria 05]

pearls are supposed to represent tears a bride will shed on her wedding day and as a married woman with so many brides wearing pearls I think it must be happy tears.

[Poloke]

I've heard about the pearls too. When my aunt got married, her husband-to-be sent over her wedding day gift- yup, nice strand of pearls. In that room full of women, you could of heard a pin drop after the gasps. Then they all started saying how its bad luck...

they are still together, and yeah, she did cry alot that day.

wonder if its really true or just odd coincedence?

[Emily]

Woohoo!! I got married on a Tuesday!!! I'm gonna be rich!!!!

I also probably fell asleep first...so I may die first! I always planned on it going that way though....

[septbride]

I've never heard of half of these superstitions! I want to be able to see him the night before.
But I did hear the opal one!

[Scarlett O]

pearls are supposed to represent tears a bride will shed on her wedding day and as a married woman with so many brides wearing pearls I think it must be happy tears.

I believe that for each pearl a bride wears, it is a bad tear she will shed on her wedding day/night. But I suppose that if you don't agree, they could be tears of joy! :)

The other one we did that I love is the Turkish Shoe signing - each single BM signs the bottom of the bride's shoe. Whoever's name is left by the end of the night is the next girl to marry. She actually was!

[Julie]

Not sure if anyone's heard this or it was just some my family made up, but this is a bridal shower one. For every ribbon you break when you open packages that's how many children you'll have. Yikes!

[Scarlett O]

Not sure if anyone's heard this or it was just some my family made up, but this is a bridal shower one. For every ribbon you break when you open packages that's how many children you'll have. Yikes!

Nope, that is a real one! And it counts for every ribbon you cut, as well.

[aubreyandkelly]

:bag: I didn't read everything in here...but...

has anyone heard of the bean tradition for newlyweds??
For the first year that you're married you put a bean in a jar for each time you have sex.
For the second year that you're married, you take out a bean for everytime you have sex.

Then you see how it compares.

----------

I just heard this 2 days ago, and then I heard that you do that for the first year and then that is the number of times you'll have sex for the rest of your marriage. :laugh3:



anyone heard either variation?

[Poloke]

I've never heard the bean theory but its a riot!

p.s. love your avatar

[PurpleFlower]

I like that one but I would prob forget and not put one in and be way far behind by the time I would remember!

[KathyandJer]

I think it would be funny to try it...

[Angela]

Someone told us to put a nickel into a jar everytime we had sex our first year of marriage, then the second year, do quarters. He said the nickels will probably add up to more than the quarters :laugh3:

[KelciAlexandra]

i once heard that veils were used to hide the sad faces of the brides from the grooms when they were given away in arranged marriages

[lunarmagic]

I haven't read everything here, but...

I find most traditions strange! I didn't do most of them... nothing "blue", my father didn't walk me down the aisle, we didn't have a wedding cake.... but then I followed other traditions so. ;)