wedding favours
There are many wedding superstitions and myths from medieval times the following a just a few:-
The Proposal
In the past the wedding proposal was a very formal procedure. The groom would send his friends and members of his family to meet the bride’s family before the proposal. If on the way to meet his future in laws the friends and family saw a blind man, a monk or pregnant women it was thought that the marriage would be doomed and the groom would have to reconsider his proposal.
However if they saw a goat or pigeon on their way this was said to be very lucky and would bring good luck and happiness to their future marriage.
May was always the best month to propose to your future bride, the groom would leave a hawthorn branch at the front door on the 1st of May and if the proposal was accepted his future bride would leave the hawthorn branch at the back door…
If however you were unlucky and the proposal was turned down she would leave a cauliflower….. It was also thought to be very unlucky for the bride to marry someone if their surname started with the same letter and she must never practice writing her new surname before the wedding…
The best month to marry.
Although May was thought to be the best month to propose it is one of the worst months to marry. Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhyme:
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’ll 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.
Summer was seen to be the best period to marry just as it is today.
Most weddings took place between April & September as it was traditional that the couple would marry in church. Now couples can marry in various places Hotels, country houses, and even on a beach if it has been granted a license this means the wedding season has extended to cover the winter months when it can be a lot cheaper to get married.
Some of the old traditions are kept up today one being to give a bride a lucky sixpence!
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe.
Something old is usually a gift from the bride’s oldest friend that has a special meaning to both of them. Something new is the wedding dress. Something borrowed can be a lace garter worn by a previous bride. Something blue is usually a small piece of blue ribbon attach to the garter or on the inside of the wedding dress. And a silver sixpence for the bride to place in her shoe.
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