You’ve probably heard that rain is good luck on your wedding day – or ironic depending on whether you’re an Alanis Morissette fan and your definition of “ironic” – but you may not be familiar with these other cultural wedding traditions and superstitions.
If you’re looking for something unique to add to your wedding, either to symbolize your culture or personalize your union, consider selecting one of these symbols or customs – or try putting a new spin on an old favorite to make it truly yours!
Asian:
- Asian couples often wear robes embroidered with cranes to symbolize fidelity for the length of a marriage.
Czech:
- In accordance with Czech tradition, wedding guests throw peas instead of rice.
Danish:
- In Holland, couples often plant a pine tree outside their new home as a symbol of fertility and luck.
Egyptian:
- Egyptian women often pinch the bride on her wedding day for good luck.
- In Egypt, the bride’s family traditionally cooks for the couple for a week after the wedding so the newlyweds can relax.
English:
- In England, if a bride finds a spider in her wedding dress, it is said to be good luck.
- English couples traditionally consider Wednesday the “best day” to marry, although couples who marry on Monday are said to do so for wealth, while those who marry on Tuesday marry for health. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore, even though it’s the most popular day of the week to marry!
Finnish:
- A Finnish bride traditionally went door-to-door collecting gifts in a pillowcase while accompanied by an older, married man who represented long marriage.
Greek:
- Greek brides often place a sugar cube in their glove to sweeten the union.
Korean:
- Forget white! In Korea, brides traditionally wear bright hues of red and yellow to take their vows.
Moroccan:
- Moroccan women often take a milk bath to purify themselves before their wedding ceremony.
South African:
- In South Africa, the parents of the bride and groom are said to carry fire from their hearths to light a new fire in the newlyweds’ hearth.
Swedish:
- A Swedish bride traditionally places a silver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in each shoe to ensure she’ll never do without.
For more information, contact SPE at (216) 870-4513 or scott@spedj.com.
