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traditions + customs

Traditions, customs, conventions, and superstitions, whether you realise it or not, are probably all a part of your wedding.

Photo: Bob Gould Photography

Although most of these rituals started in times when marriage was very different to what it is today, their core symbolism relates to the unification of a couple - to a ‘couple’ becoming ‘one’. And because they can still apply to ‘marriage’ as we know it today, they still exist, and are usually still followed.

The eternal bond
This never-ending circle, complete union without end, is most readily symbolised in marriage in Australia today by the wedding rings. Customs comply with ‘the eternal bond’ in various ways. The wedding ceremony of the Greek Orthodox involves holding a crown over the couple. In the Jewish tradition, the ceremony takes place under a ‘huppah’, where the couple shares a glass of wine. The groom then breaks the glass, freezing the moment in time. Some Asian cultures believe that by sharing rice from the same bowl, the bride and groom show their oneness. Similarly, in Japanese custom, the couple takes three sips of rice wine to seal their union.

Carried over the threshold... and onto your honeymoon
This romantic, albeit not very chiropractically sound, custom is believed to have derived from the time when tribal man hit his chosen wife over the head, and carried her away where her kin couldn’t find them! Today, the groom will carry his bride over the doorway (and not much further) of the room where they will spend their first night together as a married couple. The custom of a ‘honeymoon’ is said to have similar origins. One month of seclusion was considered enough time for the bride’s kin to call off the search for her. Another theory for the word ‘honeymoon’ originated in ancient Egypt where the bride’s father gave the groom a full pot of honey in honour of the union. The ceremony always took place on a full moon, hence the word honeymoon.

Photo: JC Photography
 
A sixpence in your shoe...
Slipping a silver sixpence or a penny into your wedding shoe before you walk down the aisle is said to promise future wealth.

Something old, something new
The tradition of wearing ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ is still recognised by many brides. Something old represents the bride’s family ties and her life before marriage, while something new represents the new life she is entering. Something borrowed represents the importance of family and friends, while something blue represents their faithfulness to each other and their union. Brides often choose jewellery to symbolise the something old part of the superstition, while their wedding gown and other clothing often fulfill the something new aspect. Typically a handkerchief represents something borrowed, and something blue is commonly a garter tied with blue ribbon, or a piece of sapphire or turquoise jewellery.

The luck of the chimneysweep
The luck of the chimneysweep is a superstition still recognised at weddings. This charming practice hails from England and involves an authentic chimneysweep kissing the bride on her wedding day. The kiss is supposed to impart luck, ensuring the marriage is a happy and prosperous one. If you just happen to see a chimneysweep on your wedding day, that is definitely considered ‘good luck’.

Throwing rice
Showering the new bride and groom with rice is a tradition started in Asia that is considered a symbol of fertility. Rice was initially replaced with confetti, but these days, bubbles, rose petals, pot pouri  and even the releasing of doves and butterflies are becoming increasingly popular.

 
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