| Cultural Customs and Traditions Discuss cultural wedding customs and traditions. |
03-14-2006, 03:36 AM
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Editor of Bliss/Pash
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
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Wedding Superstitions and Traditions
Did you know that it is good luck to get married when the second hand of the clock is going upward? Did you know that it is bad luck to see the bride in all her glory before she walks down the aisle? The following is a list of wedding superstitions and traditions compiled from brides around the world.
If you have any superstitions or traditions you'd like to share, you can do so by either hitting Post Reply or by sending us an email at contact@pashweddings.com. Thanks!
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03-14-2006, 03:39 AM
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Hang Gift Bows Over Door
Submitted by: Linda S. of San Mateo, California
I heard from a friend that you the couple should hang all the gift's bows in a bunch over the front door for a year. It brings good luck.
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Tears of Pearls #1
Submitted by: Jane of Albuquerque, New Mexico
I heard the bride should wear pearls on her wedding day to ensure she would not cry.
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'Til death do us part
Submitted by: Marie P. of Matteson, Illinois
The one about "If the bride's dress is torn on her wedding day, the marriage will end in death." I can't help but recall that on "my" wedding day, one of my vows was, indeed, "til death do us part". See what I mean?
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Over the Threshold
Submitted by: Ashley C. of Coquitlam
When a newly married couple enters their home, the groom should carry the bride over the threshold because if the bride should stumble entering the home, it is a bad omen.
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Tying Tin Cans
Submitted by: Ashley C. of Coquitlam
Tying tin cans to the back of the newlywed's car is good luck because the noise will frighten away evil spirits.
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Ripped Wedding Dress
Submitted by: Crystal P. of Park Forest, Illinois
If your dress is rippped on the day before your wedding, it means that your marriage will end in death!
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Lit Candles
Submitted by: Fiz
If candles are lit on your wedding day and they go out it means an evil spirit is near by!
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Rose Petals
Submitted by: Rachel of Kansas City
Do you know why flower girls drop flower petals as they walk down the aisle? So, the new couple will have lots of chances to have babies!
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Top layer of your Wedding Cake #1
Submitted by: Angela of Leeds, United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, it is traditional to save the top layer of your wedding cake for the christening of your first child.
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Smashing Glasses
Submitted by: Lynda of Adelaide, Australia
When you and your husband toast your new life together you must smash the glasses that you toast with. This way the glasses are never used for a better purpose.
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Lucky Day to Marry
Submitted by: Monica of Orlando
The Victorians believed it was lucky to marry on a day during the week the groom was born. But the luckiest day to marry was on the groom's actual birthday.
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The White Wedding Gown
Submitted by: Monica of Orlando
White dresses have nothing to do with virginity. In ancient times, cloth was very expensive to bleach and more than 1 bleaching was required. The whiter the cloth, the more affluent the bride's family. Some symbols of virginity/purity are bride's hair worn down at the ceremony, orange blossoms, or a wreath of flowers worn on the head.
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Bad Luck for Bride to Make her Own Dress
Submitted by: Sharon of Detroit, Michigan
My grandmother says that if the bride helps to make her own dress it will bring bad luck. My grandmother made my mother's and my mother made mine. They did it all with no help.
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Bad Timing
Submitted by: Sarah of Morehead, Kentucky
My grandmother told me the day of my wedding (10 yrs. ago) to say our vows when the hour hand on the clock is going upwards. This makes you work together in your married life together. She always said that if you said your vows when the hour hand is go down it is bad luck.
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03-14-2006, 03:41 AM
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Throwing Rice #2
Submitted by: Anonymous
I always was told throwing rice at the new couple was to "feed" the evil spirits and distract them; thus, keeping the new marriage safe.
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Top-Layer of the Wedding Cake
Submitted by: Leah of Cushing, Texas
The top layer of the wedding cake should be saved for the couples first anniversary. It should be wrapped in plastic wrap, then paper towels, then freezer paper, then taped with freezer tape and frozen to insure that it will not ruin. You can put the cake in the freezer for an hour or so to set the icing before wrapping if you want. On the first anniversary, remove the cake from the freezer, let thaw, and enjoy the memories of your wedding day.
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"Bow"-quet
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Make sure you hold on to the bows and ribbons that you untie at your bridal/wedding shower. Thread the ribbons through a paper plate (any color) and decorate the plate with all the bows to make "flowers." On the day or night of your rehearsal, utilize your "bow"-quet in place of your real floral bouquet for good luck.
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Tears of Pearls #2
Submitted by: C. A. Reyes of Austin, Texas
A superstition from Mexico has it that the bride can not wear pearls in her wedding day for the pearls are the tears she will cry in her marriage.
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No Knives, Please
Submitted by: Stokes of New York, New York
In the Jewish tradition, it's bad luck to receive knives as a wedding gift. In case someone should give knives, the bride should transform the exchange into a financial transaction by giving a penny or nominal sum for the knives.
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Stand-in Bride
Submitted by: L. B. of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The bride is never supposed to practice walking down the aisle during her rehearsal or it will bring bad luck. The most popular alternative is to ask a close friend not in the wedding party to be your "Stand in Bride".
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Tears of Happiness
Submitted by: Kristy of San Francisco, California
If a bride cries on her wedding day, those shall be the last tears she ever sheds over her marriage.
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Penny Loafer
Submitted by: Kristy of San Francisco, California
Put a penny in your shoe for wealth in your marriage.
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I'm on the left and you're on the right
Submitted by: Kristy of San Francisco, California
The bride is on the left side of the groom in Christian marriages so that the groom could have easy access to his sword to defend his bride from rival suitors.
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Virgin Mary Figurine in the Window
Submitted by: D. L. of Maryland
I do not know if this is considered a superstition or a religious tradition, but it is one that I followed on my wedding day. If you want a sunny wedding day, it was a good idea to place a figurine of the virgin Mary in your window the week before the date. This was to help guarantee that the day would be sunny and wonderful in many ways. Hope this is one that can be shared. It worked on my wedding day and others in my circle of acquaintances.
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A Special Kiss
Submitted by: M. P. of Houston, Texas
It's good luck for the bride to be kissed by a chimney sweep on her wedding day.
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The Veil
Submitted by: K. L. of Houston, Texas
The veil is to disguise the bride from evil spirits
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The Bridesmaid's Dress
Submitted by: K. L. of Houston, Texas
Dressing the bridesmaids is to fool the evil spirits--so they won't know who is the bride and who is not.
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Throwing Rice
Submitted by: K. L. of Houston, Texas
Throwing rice is supposed to be a way of wishing fertility and prosperity to the bride & groom.
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The Second-Hand of the Clock
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Rumor has it that couples should marry when the second-hand of the clock is going up instead of going down. For example, 2:30pm or 10:45am.
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03-14-2006, 03:45 AM
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Wedding Cake
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Preserve the top-most layer of your wedding cake by wrapping it with saran-wrap and aluminum foil. On your one-year anniversary, unwrap the cake and feed each other a slice of it. (We opted to forego this tradition.)
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Can't See the Bride
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
The groom is not supposed to see the bride in all her glory until she walks down the aisle on the day of their wedding.
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Wearing White
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Only the bride should wear white on the day of the wedding. The bride should be the center of everyone's attention; therefore, guests should refrain from wearing the same color.
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House-Cat
Submitted by: K. M. of Auburn, New York
A week before the wedding, have a house-cat eat out of your left shoe for good luck.
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Rain
Submitted by: S. D. of Houston, Texas
Rain on your wedding day means you will have many children.
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Full Moon
Submitted by: K. D. of Chicago, Illinois
Superstition has it that if there is a full moon 1-2 days before the wedding, then your married life will be filled with luck and good fortune.
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Engagement Ring
Submitted by: Rena of Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania
It is bad luck for the bride to remove her engagement ring before the day of her wedding.
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Right Foot First
Submitted by: D. Settles of Lexington, Kentucky
The bride should step into the church with her right foot first to ensure good luck. Also, if she ever plans to remove her engagement and wedding rings without bringing bad luck, she must remove them both on her way down the aisle after exchanging vows.
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Rosary Beads
Submitted by: SB of Clifton, New Jersey
If it's raining on the morning of your wedding day, hang rosary beads on the clothesline. I truly believe in this - it was POURING on the morning of my wedding day and my manicurist told me to go home and hang them on the line. By the time we were dressed the sun came out, the ground dried up and it was the most beautiful day ever for our outside wedding!
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The Ribbon
Submitted by: J. L. of Rochester, New York
This is for bridal showers. When the bride-to-be is opening her gifts, it is said that for every ribbon that she breaks, she will have one child.
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Wedding March
Submitted by: M. G. of London, Ontario, Canada
My fianceé and I were instructed by our priest not to use the "Wedding March (Here Comes the Bride)" during the ceremony. He said it was disrespectful to the bride. According to the priest, the "Wedding March" was originally composed as a bar tune that was sung when pregnant prostitutes entered the bar. He says the Roman Catholic Church now advises couples against using this traditional song. [Ed. note: "Here Comes The Bride" is actually from an opera called Lohengrin written by Wagner.]
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Good Luck
Submitted by: J. B. of Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada
I was told by a friend that it is considered good luck for the bride to encounter a chimney sweep, black cat, lamb or dove on her wedding day. She's especially lucky if she finds a spider in her wedding gown. I'm not sure if this is true but I guess I'll find out soon.
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Diamonds
Submitted by: M. H. of Cadiz, Ohio
For good luck and a lifetime of pleasant relations with the bride's parents, it is tradition for the groom to honor his future mother-in-law with a diamond when he presents the engagement ring to his future bride.
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Wedding Cake #2
Submitted by: Becky Lynch of Thorndike, Massachusetts
Smashing wedding cake into your new spouse's face is totally disrespectful when you realize where the tradition originated. It is said that the cake tradition is supposed to represent that throughout your marriage, you will "feed" each other and take care of each other.
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The Red Umbrella
Submitted by: May of New York, New York
Chinese superstition says that carrying an open red umbrella over the bride will protect her from evil spirits.
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03-14-2006, 03:52 AM
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Posts: 616
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When It Rains...
Submitted by: Karry of London, Ontario Canada
I had always heard that if it rains on your wedding day, it's suppose to bring good luck.
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Don't Remove Your Engagement Ring
Submitted by: Karry of London, Ontario Canada
I had heard that if the bride-to-be ever has to take her engagment ring off for any reason, it's bad luck. If she does remove her ring, the one that put it there should replace it.
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Don't Let Anyone Else Try Your Ring
Submitted by: Tiffany T. of Cincinnati, Ohio
You're not supposed to let any other woman try on your engagement ring because she will be the woman who steals your fiancé.
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Don't Sew Your Own Wedding Dress
Submitted by: Luisa P. of Spokane, Washington
When a bride makes her own wedding dress, for every stitch she sews she will cry a tear.
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Charwoman Begging for Alms
Submitted by: Amanda F. of Richmond, Virginia
In England, it is good luck for the bride and groom to be approached by a charwoman begging for alms.
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Don't Wear Red
Submitted by: Jackie of Waipahu, Hawaii
I've been told that it's bad luck to wear red to someone else's wedding -- I don't know why!
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Diamonds, not Pearls
Submitted by: Damaris of Puerto Rico
Wearing a pearl on the wedding day means bad luck and tears throughout the marriage. Wearing a diamond means good luck and happiness. Think about it — a diamond shines and so will your marriage!
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Rosary Beads
Submitted by: Elizabeth G. of Bridgewater
The entire week before my wedding we had sunny beautiful weather, but the forecast for our wedding day was rain. My mother told me to hang rosary beads out the window when I went to bed the night before my wedding to keep the rain away. And it worked — our wedding day was sunny and beautiful.
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No Knots but Matches
Submitted by: Pikka of Helsinki, Finland
In Finland, there exists an old superstition that there should not be any knots before the ceremony (clothes, etc.). It brings bad luck. Could be bit tricky for the groom if he has shoelaces.  Also, the bride should carry a match with her since that should keep love burning in her marriage.
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Potpourri
Submitted by: Leah of Guam
I heard that when it rains on your wedding day, it brings happiness and luck in life. Wearing pearls is a sign of bad luck or death. Boiling rocks not only on a wedding day will make the day sunny and beautiful without any rain. A woman should only try her wedding gown once. Because if she tries her gown on a second time the day before the wedding, it is said to be bad luck.
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Proper Greeting
Submitted by: Heather of Houston, Texas, USA
When I got engaged my Mom told me that it was bad luck to congratulate the bride-to-be and that the future groom should be congratulated instead. I don't know where this originated, but several other people told me the same thing.
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Dad On the Right Side
Submitted by: Laura of San Antonio, Texas, USA
This isn't necessarily superstitious, but the minister who is marrying my fiancé and I, is having me walk down the aisle on my dad's right arm. One, because it is proper etiquette for a man to offer his right arm. Two, the minister feels nothing should stand between love. So Therefore, my father will not stand between us when he gives me away but on the opposite side so nothing will be between my fiancé and I.
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Wagner's "The Bride's March"
Submitted by: Sara of Clifton Park, New York, USA
Not exactly a superstition - but frequently the reason Wagner's "Wedding March" (Here Comes the Bride), from the Opera "Lohengrin", is not encouraged. The opera is a tragedy whereby the bride betrays the groom after which he must leave her. Following that, she dies.
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Groom Cannot See the Bride Before the Wedding Ceremony
Submitted by: Marilee of Waltham
Everyone knows it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony. I found it true when my cousins divorced and after they decided not to follow the superstition.
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Veil
Submitted by: Eryn of Bakersfield
I heard that the reason a bride wears a veil is so that evil demons can't find her.
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Throwing the Garter
Submitted by: Diana of Minneapolis, USA
At the reception, the groom should gather the single men, remove the garter from the bride's thigh (commonly with his teeth but not required), turn his back to the single men and toss the garter over his shoulder. Whichever man catches it will be the next to be married. I found this to be true at my cousin's wedding when my boyfriend of five weeks caught the garter and proposed to me that night!
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Throwing the Bouquet
Submitted by: Diana of Minneapolis, USA
At the reception, the bride should gather the single women, turn her back to them, and toss her bouquet (or an alternate bouquet just for this purpose) over her shoulder. Whichever single woman catches it will be the next to get married.
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Chinese Superstitions
Submitted by: Valerie of Toronto, Canada
In the Chinese culture, the color red brings good luck. Often the decorations are red, monetary gifts are given in little red envelopes, and the bride's dress is red.
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Red Roses and Lost Wedding Ring
Submitted by: Barbara of Australia
It is bad luck to use red roses in the bridal bouquet. It will end in the death of a marriage. To lose your wedding ring means to lose your husband. I did both and lost my husband five years after we married in an accident.
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The Last Name on the Shoe
Submitted by: Neelley of Columbia
I've heard that the bride is supposed to have all of her bridesmaids sign the bottom of her shoe before the wedding. At the end of the reception, the bridesmaid whose name is worn off the most is the next to marry!
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Wearing White
Submitted by: Kimberly M. of Columbus
The reason a bride wears white on her wedding day is because the color white means joy. If the bride wears white, she will be covered in nothing but joy on here special day.
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03-14-2006, 03:52 AM
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Poem
Submitted by: Rebecca of Sydney, Australia
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, your spirit will sink.
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Waning Moon
Submitted by: A Nonny Mouse of Connecticut, USA
It is bad luck for the wedding to take place while the moon is waning for the couple's love will likewise wane (Arthur and Gweniviere were married during the waning moon and she ran off with Lance, remember?) To ensure a good marriage, plan to wed during the waxing moon.
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Crying Boyfriends
Submitted by: Karen of Quincy
My mother says that rain on the wedding day represents the bride's old boyfriends crying after her.
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Rain On Your Wedding Day
Submitted by: Crystal W. of Philadelphia
I heard that if it rains on your wedding day and everything is on schedule or close to it, the marriage will be a success because it shows they you work together under pressure and face obstacles.
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Dress Longer Than Bride's Dress
Submitted by: Danielle of Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA
It is bad luck for any other dress to be longer than the bride's dress.
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Throwing the Shoe
Submitted by: Robyn of Orange
I read that if the groom's mother throws an old shoe over (not at!!) the new bride as they leave the ceremony location, the bride and her mother-in-law will be friends forever!
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Rain on your Wedding Day
Submitted by: Denise B. of Weymouth, Massachusetts, USA
I've heard many times that rain on your wedding day means that your marriage with be blessed with fertility and good fortune. This is based on rain being needed to replenish reservoirs and sustain crops.
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Superstitious Numbers
Submitted by: Leland of San Francisco, California, USA
In Japanese and Chinese culture, the number "four" is synonymous with "death". Therefore, when giving gifts do not have the number of items or money figures symbolizing the number four. In Chinese, the numbers nine (eternity), eight (prosperity), two (harmony), six (prosperity) are lucky. The number five is a negation. For example, five-eight=to not prosper. five-two=not harmonious.
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Iron
Submitted by: Athina S. of Brooklyn, New York, USA
In the Italian culture, the groom has to carry a piece of iron in his pocket to keep the evil eye (mal'ochino) away from he and his bride. The iron is suppose to reflect the evil spirits and banish them.
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Trying on the Dress
Submitted by: Droopy of Orange County, California, USA
It is bad luck for the bride to try on her wedding gown before the wedding day. If she does, most likely that the wedding ceremony will not go through.
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03-15-2006, 03:21 AM
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Posts: 616
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Wearing White
Submitted by: Krysahn of San Diego, California
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress gained popularity in the Victorian Age. Queen Victoria wore a beautiful white dress to marry her beloved Alfred, and it started a world-wide trend. Prior to that most women wore their best dress--even if that dress was black.
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Something Old, New, Borrowed & Blue
Submitted by: B. H. of Boynton Beach, FL
I wasn't sure about this until it was asked of me by the bridal shop owner, Gerri. The owner suggested to help out. She recommended that for "something old" I ask my mother or grandmother for an old piece of blue ribbon or lace about 12 inches long or longer. Gerri got a piece of one of the appliques from my dress for "something new" and a brand new copper penny for "something borrowed." I was able to get an old satin sky-blue ribbon from my grandmother that wrapped around a straw hat I once played with as a little girl. Gerry gathered my items and asked me to remind her to show me when I came in for my next fitting.
When I came back for my fitting I was all decked out in my gown when I remembered to ask Gerri about the items she had requested from me. She came back with a little box with hand made garter and inside the box were the items. On the inside she showed me where the penny was and said that "..this is borrowed. To get the full good luck you must return this." I was happy for I knew nothing of this tradition and now I had a special little something for myself that I can pass on. I am going to a bridal shower in a month and plan to do this for my friend as a gift.
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Confetti at Italian Weddings
Submitted by: Heather of North Plainfield, NJ
Italian weddings always have "confetti" which are sugared almonds. This signifies the bitter-sweetness of marriage (the almond being bitter and the sugar sweet). There is always an odd number given for luck.
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Welsh Love Spoons
Submitted by: Heather of North Plainfield, NJ
Welsh men spent a great deal of time at sea. Traditionally they would carve a "love spoon" from a single piece of wood. The images he carved into the spoon meant different things and the spoons were sometimes created with incredible skill (for instance carving a ball that could rock back and forth in it's chamber).
When the young man came home from sea, he would present the spoon to the woman he wanted to marry, the images showing what he promised: love, wealth, devotion, etc.
Today love spoons are still a symbol of love, although they are now given for births, anniversaries and other occasions.
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Wearing Old Shoes
Submitted by: Dawn "soon-to-be" Watkins of Cincinnati, Ohio
In medieval times, happy was the bride who wore old shoes. I wish I could tell you how this tradition began, but I'd imagine it had a little something to do with comfort! Works for me!
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Bridal Party
Submitted by: Jessie of Adealide, Australia
Traditionally, bridesmaids and groomsmen were dressed like the bride and groom so former, jealous suitors would be tricked and not be able to ruin the wedding day. It was also said to be done to trick evil spirit so that they could not curse the couple.
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Cherokee Wedding Ceremony
Submitted by: Ramona N. of Union Grove, Alabama, USA
Since no known record of an actual Cherokee wedding exist predating the Trail Of Tears they have been improvised from stories passed through the generations.
A 'tear dress' must be worn by the bride. This dress is taken from cloth, torn into strips and then stitched back together. The reasoning is because back in our forefathers day there were no scissors. The mans shirt is a 'ribbon shirt'. They enter under blue blankets to represent their old ways of weakness, sorrow, failures and spiritual depression.
A Holy Man from the tribe (an elder) must bless the union. The couple have baskets and in the brides are bread and corn, representing her promise to nurture and support him, this she feeds to him. His contains meat and skins, representing his vow to feed and clothe her. They then shed the blue blankets and are wrapped by the relatives in one single white blanket representing the new life they are making together and also for fulfillment and peace. 'Stomp Dancers' are there to ring in the ceremony and a Continuance prayer is said to end the services. The bride and groom must bestow gifts onto the Holy Man, the elder of the tribe who acts as "best man" and the "bridesmaid" which can be either male or female in either case. These gifts have to be gifts from the heart, a handmade blanket, a pipe, something of importance to the tribal member. The witness' must be from the tribal council. No type of modern appliances are allowed inside the Holy Temple nor are P.A. systems.
The ceremony is to be held in a traditional hut or 'teepee'.
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Horseshoe
Submitted by: Patricia of Boron
Legend has it that Saint Dunstan gave the horseshoe a special power against evil. Approached by Satan to make horseshoes for his cloven feet, Dunstan knew he was the devil. He shackled him to the wall to attach the horseshoes. The devil was freed after promising never to enter a house with a horseshoe. Today the horseshoe is a symbol of good fortune and fertility. In Britain, and many other countries, a Bride carries a replica of a horseshoe on her wedding day for good luck. There is a ribbon attached to the shoulders of the horseshoe and it is carried on the wrist.
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The Threshold
Submitted by: Jessica H. of Bear, Denmark
I was once told the reason a bride is carried across the threshold into there "Honeymoon". It is said that to sweeten the marriage, the couple's family would paint honey on the door frame of there new home. The groom must then lift the bride so as not to ruin her dress.
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Honeywine
Submitted by: Kim of Coudy
Honeymoon: In medieval times, in the evening after the wedding the couple were given mead - a honeywine. It was said that the couple would drink of it and procreate. If the bride gave birth nine months after the wedding it was a great honor to the brewer of the mead. It would increase his business and reputation, and often the new child would be named after him in honor.
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Top-tier of the Wedding Cake
Submitted by: Kim of Coudy
In the days of old, the top-tier of the wedding cake was to be placed under the couple's bed so that the bride would be fertile and bear strong children. After a year, the bride and groom would consume what was left of the cake for luck or health. Needless to say, the tradition has changed somewhat in recent years, but you still find the newlyweds putting cake in their freezer till the first anniversary.
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Over the Threshold
Submitted by: Jess E. of Melbourne, Florida, USA
The tradition of carrying the bride over the doorpost comes from as far back as the ancient Romans. It was tradition for the family to annoint the doorpost with fine oil and herbs. For this reason the groom would lift the bride over the threshold so she would not slip.
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Engagement Rings
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Long time ago, engagement rings served as partial payment for the right to court a bride (sort of like a down payment).
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Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
"Something Old" comes from the garter of a married woman. "Something New" is your wedding dress. "Something Borrowed" is a gold coin that represents the sun. "Something Blue" symbolizes the moon (In ancient times, the goddess of the moon, Diana, served as the protector of women).
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The Wedding Veil
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
The wedding veil is used to restrain a jealous old-boyfriend from seeing you and possibly ruining your wedding day.
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The Wedding Ring
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
You wear your wedding ring on the fourth finger of your left hand because it was said that "...from this finger a nerve went direct to the heart."
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Garter
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Hundreds of years ago, it was common practice for the guests to follow the wedding couple to their bed. As the years past, the tradition started getting out of hand with some of the guests trying to disrobe the bride. To ward off the guests, the groom would throw the garter.
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Bouquet Toss
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
Whoever catches the bouquet is the next one to wed.
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Rice
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
A symbol of fertility.
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Top-tier of your Wedding Cake
Submitted by: Cheryl Galvez
You and your spouse are to wrap and preserve the top layer of your wedding cake. On your first wedding anniversary, each of you are to eat a slice of it.
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11-15-2007, 12:25 AM
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New Member
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Posts: 65
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Philippine Wedding Superstitions
Superstitions in the Philippines is a way of life... here are some wedding related ones:
Never clear the table while somebody is still eating or that person will never get married.
Single women should not sing while cooking or they will never get married.
Brides shouldn't try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or it will not push through. (brides should just pray that the gown will fit them on the wedding day, the first and final fitting)
Knives and other sharp, pointed objects are said to be bad choices for wedding gifts as giving them will lead to a broken marriage.
Giving an arinola (chamberpot) as a wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to the giver and the newlyweds.
(Cheapskate alert!)
Soon-to-weds are said to be accident-prone especially as their altar date draws near; thus, they must avoid traveling and taking long drives before their wedding day.
The groom who sits down before his bride does during the wedding ceremony will be ‘under-the –saya’ (henpecked husband).
If a bride’s monthly period falls on the wedding day, the couple will be blessed with a lot of children.
(One things sure though, no honeymoon baby here!)
Couples must offer eggs to Sta. Clara to pray that the wedding day would be rain-free.
A downpour during the wedding brings prosperity and marital bliss!
(So why offer eggs if the rain bring good luck? Smells fishy… maybe it’s the eggs!)
The spouse on whose side the wedding candle is lit last will be a submissive partner.
If the flame dies out on one of the wedding candles, it means the spouse, on whose side the unlit candle belongs to will die ahead of the other.
(Glad somebody thought of the Unity Candle and overshadowed all these candle negativity!)
Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their lives.
The groom must arrive at the church before the bride to avoid bad luck.
(Unless you want everyone to panic and make it appear that the bride’s been stood up!)
It is considered bad luck for siblings to marry within the same year.
In the vernacular, this is known as "sukob" or sharing one's luck with somebody else.
Accidentally breaking something during the reception (be it a plate or a goblet) brings good luck to the newlyweds.
The bride should ‘accidentally’ step on the groom's foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree with her every whim.
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be a miserable since these gems are considered ‘tears’ of the oysters.
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will never become a miserable wife as the pearls will served as a foil for bad luck and and represent the tears she could have shed if she hasn’t worn any on the wedding day. (hmmm... so which is which?)
An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.
The more food at the reception, the bountiful the blessings the marriage will receive.
Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or a coin in the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.
(Gheez! We let two grown-ups handle and pin the veil on the couple but we let two naughty little boys carry the rings and arras! Don’t we care for happy marriages at all?!!)
adapted from: http://www.weddingsatwork.com/culture_folklore.shtml i am in no way connected to that site, just acknowledging my trivia source
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11-15-2007, 12:48 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Wedding Date: August 25, 2006
Posts: 2,219
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by when2worldscollide
If a bride’s monthly period falls on the wedding day, the couple will be blessed with a lot of children.
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Ummmmmm no babies. Unless you could the 4 we already have!
Quote:
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Originally Posted by when2worldscollide
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be a miserable since these gems are considered ‘tears’ of the oysters.
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I'm not at all miserable (unless you wake me up  )
Quote:
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Originally Posted by when2worldscollide
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will never become a miserable wife as the pearls will served as a foil for bad luck and and represent the tears she could have shed if she hasn’t worn any on the wedding day.
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There ya go .... I am never miserable!
Quote:
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Originally Posted by when2worldscollide
The more food at the reception, the bountiful the blessings the marriage will receive.
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Yeah! We had leftovers!!!!
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12-02-2007, 04:56 PM
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New Member
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Posts: 98
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My FMIL said that its bad luck for me to rehearse my part at our rehearsal- she offered to have my FSIL stand in for me!
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