Something Borrowed: Wedding Superstitions
Whether you believe in superstitions or not, almost everyone enjoys playing along with them. It is a great way to add variety to wedding preparations and celebrate tradition. A wedding is a special event, and we wish the newlyweds happiness on their new journey in life. Often, even those who do not believe in superstitions on a daily basis try to ensure their marital bliss with their help.
Choosing the wedding date and venue
Setting a wedding date according to wedding superstitions is no easy task. First of all, we avoid setting the wedding date in May or November. These months are said to bring bad luck to the newlyweds. All other dates are suitable, and the months containing the letter "r" in their name are believed to bring the most happiness to the future spouses. There is only one problem - if you have already managed to set a wedding date, you should not postpone it. It is considered a very bad omen for the future. When handing out wedding invitations, be careful not to leave any at home, so do not buy too many, as this is another issue that can bring bad luck to the newlyweds' life together.
As for the wedding venue, in the case of a church wedding, it is ideal if the ceremony takes place in the same church where the Bride was baptized. It is also worth thinking carefully about who will be the Groom's best man and the Bride's maid of honor. It is better not to choose a couple for these roles, as this can also be an unfavorable omen, resulting in bad luck in the future.
How the wedding attire ensures happiness for the couple
Once the date of the wedding ceremony is known, it is time to prepare the Bride and Groom's attire. Well-known superstitions say that the Groom cannot see the Bride's dress before the wedding, as this may cause discord in the marriage. Therefore, he should not help in choosing it or assist during fittings. Instead, he should buy his future wife wedding shoes, which cannot have open toes or heels. Only closed shoes will bring happiness. The Bride, in turn, must buy a shirt for her fiancé. When trying on the wedding outfit and looking in the mirror, the Bride should never have the complete ensemble on. At least one element must always be missing during the fitting. No unmarried woman planning to get married should be tempted to try on the Bride's dress, as it risks her remaining single forever. When choosing accessories and the wedding outfit, it is worth remembering that although pearls are beautiful and feminine, wearing them to a wedding foretells a life full of tears.
A white dress is a symbol of purity and fidelity. However, to ensure her husband's fidelity, the Bride should also wear something blue. In addition, she must have something borrowed so that her future family will be kind to her, something new symbolizes prosperity, and something old – the preservation of old friendships and family ties.
What to watch out for during the wedding ceremony
The Bride and Groom are dressed in their wedding attire, everything is ready, and it is time to set off. They cannot drive to the wedding themselves; they must be driven by a man. On the way, be careful of black cats; if one crosses your path, you must immediately turn back and find another route. On the way, the Groom should look out for magpies and pigeons, which herald happiness for the newlyweds. It is better to avoid crows and ravens. There should be no stops along the way - they bring bad luck and foretell a poor marital life.
Once the future spouses have arrived safely at the church or the Registry Office, they must be careful to cross the threshold with their right foot. On the way to the altar, they should not look at the guests, as this foretells betrayal. The Bride should also not look back.
Standing before the altar or the official, the Bride and Groom must pay attention to the candle flames. Straight and high flames symbolize a good marriage, while flickering flames indicate a restless one. If a candle flame goes out, it means the breakdown of the marriage. Tears of joy during the ceremony are a very good omen for the future. The person whose hand is on top under the stole while taking the vows will dominate in the marriage. Mistakes made while reciting the wedding vows bring good luck. After the ceremony, whoever gets up from their knees first will have the upper hand.
Newlyweds leaving the church must be careful not to trip, as this brings misfortune. Wedding guests are already waiting in front of the church, showering the Bride and Groom with rice or small coins. Rice means fertility, money means prosperity. In the case of coins, the spouse who collects more will also have more of them in life. It is good if the first person to offer congratulations to the newlyweds is a man, and double happiness awaits them if it is a stranger.
Wedding reception – time to have fun
Fun is fun, but during the reception, you also need to be careful not to jinx the marriage. At the entrance to the wedding hall, parents or other people welcome the newlyweds with bread and salt. They ask the Bride what she prefers: bread, salt, or the Groom. She should answer, "bread, salt, and the Groom, so he can work for them." Then their future life will be prosperous. Next, the couple receives two glasses, one with water and one with vodka. The one who chooses the glass with vodka will have the upper hand. After drinking the contents, the Bride and Groom throw the glasses behind them. If they break, happiness awaits them. They must be careful not to cause misfortune immediately by hitting one of the guests with a glass.
After such a ceremony, the Groom can carry his wife over the threshold to avoid the misfortune that her tripping might cause. They must also be careful during the first dance. Missing a step can cause discord in the marriage. If they make it through the first dance successfully, they can breathe a sigh of relief until the traditional "oczepiny" (unveiling). At midnight, the Groom throws his bow tie or tie behind him. The bachelor who catches it will be the first to get married. Meanwhile, the single women present at the wedding compete for the Bride's veil. The one who catches it will be the first to get married. The Bride should not throw the veil twice, as it may bring misfortune to her marriage.
Wedding superstitions are good fun and a way to preserve tradition. They vary depending on the region of Poland and are not respected everywhere. Some are related to religion, others to regional culture and ancient pagan beliefs. And although not everyone is superstitious, it is worth following at least a few of them, for example, giving the Bride something blue and borrowed, and preparing raw rice to shower the newlyweds with after the ceremony.
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