Wedding Lore

JANUARY LORE

"Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true"

Tradition states that it is considered bad luck for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
Seeing a rainbow on the way to the wedding ceremony is considered a symbol of good luck.
If you see a Chimney Sweep on the journey to the church it is considered good luck. Even great luck is to see the sweep's brush emerging out of the top of a chimney. If you see a chimney sweep and receive a "kiss of luck" after the marriage ceremony it is supposed to bring the married couple good fortune. Some bride and grooms actually hire a real live chimney sweep to be present on their wedding day.

Remember this great song sung by Dick Van Dyke in "Mary Poppins":

Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-oo!
Good luck will rub off when I shakes 'ands with you

Or blow me a kiss and that's lucky too

Now, as the ladder of life 'as been strung
You might think a sweep's on the bottommost rung
Though I spends me time in the ashes and smoke
In this 'ole wide world there's no 'appier bloke

Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey
Chim chim cher-ee!
When you're with a sweep you're in glad company
Nowhere is there a more 'appier crew
Than them wot sings, "Chim chim cher-ee, chim cher-oo!"
On the
Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim cher-ee, chim cher-oo!

FEBRUARY LORE

"When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate."

Some superstitious brides leave a final stitch on their gown unfinished until their wedding day for good luck.
It is also believed by some brides that it is bad luck to wear her complete outfit before the wedding day.

MARCH LORE

"If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know"

It was thought that misfortune would fall on those who married during lent....."Marry in Lent, live to repent".....because let was a time for abstinence.
In hopes of confusing spirits and send them away members of a wedding party would dress alike.

APRIL LORE

"Marry in April when you can, joy for the Maiden and for the Man"

Tradition says that the first member of the newlywed couple to purchase a new item following the wedding ceremony will be the dominant force in the relationship.
Cakes have played a part of weddings throughout history. The first known wedding cake began with the Romans where the cake was part of the ceremony. A traditional fruit cake wedding cake originated in England with the fruit and nuts being a symbol of fertility.

MAY LORE

“Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day”

Riddle: “To change the name and not the letter is to expect the worst and not the better”. It is believed that it is unlucky to marry a man whose last name begins with the same first letter as your own.
In the UK many brides carry one of the following whatnots dangling from their bridal bouquet for good luck…..One or more horseshoes (usually silver), a black cat, a slipper or shoe, or a wooden spoon.

JUNE LORE

“Marry when June Roses grow, over land and sea you will go”

The month of June is named after the Goddess Juno, the goddess of the hearth and home, and patron wives.
In the medieval times June was chosen for the month to marry because the annual baths of the populace took place in May. From May to the following May cleanliness was not a part of their daily ritual as it is today. It was an annual event. So, being that they were relatively clean in June made it a good time to have a special event such as a wedding.

JULY LORE

“Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bread”

Long ago if a young man encountered a blind person, a pregnant woman, or a monk or a nun while on his way to propose to his intended, it was believed that the marriage would be doomed if he continued along his path because these images were thought to be bad omens.
However, if the groom was to happen upon a pigeon, wolf, or goat, he could expect vast good fortune in the marriage.

AUGUST LORE

“Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see”

The white wedding dress tradition began in the 16^th century. The white dress symbolized the bride’s purity and her worthiness of her groom. This tradition remains to this day.
Tying tin cans to the back of the newlywed’s transportation originated a long time ago when items which would produce noise were tied to the back of the couple’s carriage to scare away evil spirits.

SEPTEMBER LORE

"Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine"

"Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue And a silver sixpence in your shoe". This rhyme originated in the 1800's and is still used today for good luck. "Something Old" would have usually been a garter of a happily married woman, with the thought of being that her good fortune would be passed down along with it. "Something New" stood for the couple's happy future together. "Something Borrowed" was usually a treasured item from the bride's family. It symbolized prosperity within the union, but would bring that good fortune only if it was returned to the family. "Something Blue" came from an ancient tradition in which the bride would wear a blue ribbon in her hair as a symbol of her fidelity. Placing a "Silver Sixpence" in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couple's lifetime together.
It is believed that an unmarried bridesmaid who keeps a piece of the wedding cake under her pillow as she sleeps will dream of her future husband. It is also believed that an unmarried male guest who does the same will increase his chances of finding a mate.
Throwing Rice at the newlywed's was to symbolize fertility.
The brides bouquet is thrown over her shoulder for her unmarried lady guests to catch. The lady to catch the bouquet it is said would be the next to marry. She keeps the bouquet to ensure this destiny.
Likewise the groom removes the garter worn by his bride and throws it over his shoulder to unmarried male guests. Whoever catches it will be the next gentleman to marry.

OCTOBER LORE

“If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry”

Why do the bride and groom cut the wedding cake together? Even today, this antique ritual symbolizes the couple’s unity, and their shared life together as one.
Have you ever heard about baking a ring in a cake? It was once a custom in merry old England to bake a ring into the wedding cake. It was thought that this ring was a symbol of blissful happiness. The wedding guest that chose the piece of cake that contained the ring was said to have a year of unending happiness.
Did you know why the bride today wears a wedding veil? Most of us today think of the veil as a symbol of virginity. Back in the medieval times brides wore them to ward off evil spirits since she was thought to be especially unprotected at this time. It was thought that the veil would help disguise the bride and fool the evil spirits. In the 19^th century the veil became a symbol of modesty and chastity.

NOVEMBER LORE

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

The bride-to-be should never practice writing your new name prior to the wedding. If you do it is thought that you will tempt fate and it will result in bad luck during your marriage.

It is bad luck for the bride-to-be to make her own wedding dress.

It is bad luck for the bride-to-be to wear her complete outfit before the wedding day.

DECEMBER LORE

"When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last."

Bad weather on the way to the wedding is believe to be a sign of unhappiness in the marriage. Cloudy skies and wind on the way to the wedding may bring on a stormy marriage. While snow on the way to the wedding is a good sign of fertility and prosperity.
Beware of the looking glass. The story goes that if a final look into the mirror right before the bride leaves her home for the ceremony it will bring good luck. But, if she looks in a mirror once again before the ceremony, her luck will tarnish.

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