Every culture has its own wedding traditions, some being centuries old. Since the United States is considered the great melting pot, many traditions have been adopted from other cultures. We’ve all heard the saying: “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” and many brides diligently make sure they carry all of these items on their wedding day. But do you know what it actually means?“Something old” represents a continuing bond with the bride’s family and her past. “Something new” symbolizes hope for the bride’s future. “Something borrowed” usually comes from a happily married friend or family member whose happiness will be carried over to the bride by borrowing the item.
“Something blue” actually dates back to ancient Roman times, when brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity. Blue was also a popular color before the late 19th century, as mentioned in proverbs such as “Marry in blue, lover be true.” All of these items are meant to bring the bride joy and luck in beginning her new life.
The original saying adds another verse: “and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” The sixpence, made of silver and worth six pennies, was a coin minted in Britain between 1551 and 1967. The custom states that a sixpence was placed in the bride’s shoe to represent wealth and prosperity.
Today, a dime or a penny is sometimes used and some stores even sell token sixpence. There is also a Scottish tradition where the groom puts a silver coin under his foot for good luck.
Traditions play an important role in weddings. There are many stories or reasons behind some of them, giving us great insight into the past. Incorporating past customs into a wedding day is a great way to honor culture and family…and it might even bring a little luck!
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