Image via Wikipedia“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” – probably we all know the rhyme. The old for bride’s family and friends’ help in times of need, the new for prosperity, the borrowed for husband’s family’s favour and the blue for faithfulness and fertility. In some countries people add something white for pureness but that is often overlooked, as traditionally the wedding dress of the bride is supposed to be white. There are many other superstitions around the world that couples abide by. Some of them are very interesting.
In Japan, the groom is responsible for furnishing the bedroom he will be sharing with his wife. To ensure male children, another married couple that already has sons is invited to spend a night in the nuptial bed.
Jewish couples should await the wedding ceremony in separate rooms and not see each other. Also, guests are supposed to treat them as if they were a royal couple, titling them ‘king’ and ‘queen’ and making their lives as pleasant as possible on their special day.
In China, the wedding party usually doesn’t last longer than three hours, as it is bad luck for the alcohol to run out. Russian men drink their alcohol from the bride’s shoe in honour of the young couple.
In Kenya, the bride’s father spits on his daughter’s head and bosom to ensure her marriage lasts. The bride should also not look back when she walks to her husband’s home, as his family might not accept her and send her back. The Irish tie a hen to their bedpost for favourable marriage. The hen is supposed to lay an egg during the wedding night that is to be eaten for breakfast.
There are as many superstitions concerning the wedding as there are countries – each country has it’s own set of traditions that the young couple need to fulfil in order to ensure a happy, fulfilling marriage and each one of them adds to the magic of this beautiful event in the lives of two people. Sometimes considered silly, in truth they are a fun addition that can bring out the uniqueness.
