Wedding superstitions

Origins and history

Many wedding superstitions trace back to ancient times. In Rome, people believed evil spirits could harm a bride through her feet, so grooms carried her over thresholds. Veils protected faces from mischief. Bridesmaids dressed alike to confuse jealous suitors. In medieval Europe, guests tore pieces of the bride’s dress for luck. Over time, these acts became symbolic rituals. Victorian England added rhymes about old, new, borrowed, and blue items. Some beliefs, like pig intestine reading, faded, while others endured.

How it is kept

Couples follow specific actions for good luck. In England, brides wear something old, new, borrowed, and blue, with a sixpence in their shoe. Throwing rice or wheat brings fruitfulness. Guests toss coins or shoes overhead. In Italy, smashing glass predicts years of happiness. Greek couples share sugar almonds for purity and sweetness. Irish weddings use bells to ward off evil spirits. Polish brides collect coins from guests to restore wealth lost by open-toed shoes. Swedish brides carry parental coins for security.

Dress and objects

Attire carries deep superstitious meaning. Blue ribbons symbolize purity and faithfulness. White veils protect against evil. Red, yellow, and blue ribbons sewn into dresses bring passion, food blessings, and wealth in Mexico. Pearls are avoided in Nicaragua as they represent sea tears. Sapphires promise happiness, while pearls bring misfortune. Green clothing is considered unlucky in England. Mirrors are avoided after dressing to prevent bad luck. Spider sightings on dresses are seen as fortunate signs.

Dates and timing

Choosing the right day matters greatly. Wednesday is the luckiest day to marry in England, while Saturday is unluckiest. Rhymes guide daily choices: Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth. May is discouraged due to ancient Roman beliefs. June is favored because of Juno, goddess of marriage. Rain on the wedding day brings wealth and fertility in India and Italy. Candle sputtering signals evil spirits. Chicken slaughter determines perfect dates in some Chinese provinces. Open graves near churches bring bad luck.

Modern changes

Some superstitions persist while others fade. Arranged marriages once justified not seeing the bride early; now it remains a secret preference. Bouquet tossing replaces dress tearing. Cake kissing over stacked cakes continues in France. Sugar cube placement on brides promises sweet unions in Greece. Pinching brides in Egypt brings luck. Many couples adapt old rules to fit modern values. Legal changes affect practices like dowry or child marriage elsewhere. Superstitions remain personal choices rather than strict requirements today.

How Wedding superstitions is kept

Brides wear colored ribbons, carry coins, or smash glass for luck. Grooms carry brides over thresholds. Guests throw rice, toss shoes, or kiss over cakes. Couples exchange sugar almonds or wear bells. Dates are chosen carefully. Rain, candles, and spiders influence decisions. Actions vary by region but aim for protection and prosperity.

When and where

Superstitions apply throughout the wedding timeline. Before the ceremony, dates are selected. During procession, veils and thresholds matter. At the ceremony, rain and candles are watched. Reception includes cake kissing, bouquet tossing, and glass smashing. Timing depends on cultural context and personal belief.

These beliefs span multiple countries. England has detailed rhymes and dress rules. France influences cake rituals. Greece uses sugar almonds. Ireland employs bells. Italy features glass smashing. Poland and Sweden focus on footwear and coins. China selects dates via chicken sacrifice. India and Mexico add color meanings. Practices reflect local histories and community values.

What Wedding superstitions means

Superstitions connect couples to ancestral wisdom. They promise protection from evil spirits. They seek wealth, fertility, and happiness. Colors and objects carry specific meanings. Blue means purity. Red signifies passion. Gold ensures prosperity. Rice brings fruitfulness. Glass breaking predicts longevity. Each action reinforces hope for a stable, joyful marriage rooted in tradition.

Who takes part

• the bride: wears protective items and follows dress rules
• the groom: carries the bride and participates in rituals
• the guests: throws rice, tosses shoes, or collects coins
• the bridesmaids: dresses similarly to confuse evil spirits
• the officiant: guides date selection and ritual performance
• the parents: provides coins or advises on auspicious days

If you are a guest

Guests throw rice or wheat for fruitfulness. They toss coins or shoes overhead for luck. In Poland, they shower the bride with coins to restore wealth. In France, they help stack cakes for the kiss ritual. In Greece, they receive sugar almonds. Their participation reinforces community support and shared hopes for the couple’s future.

Then and now

Many superstitions persist as personal choices. Some, like pig intestine reading, have faded. Others, like bouquet tossing, evolved from older practices. Legal changes affect related customs like dowry. Couples blend old beliefs with modern values. Superstitions remain meaningful but optional. Communities preserve them as cultural heritage rather than strict obligations.

On the wedding table

• wedding cake: Kissed over stacked cakes in France for lifelong happiness
• sugar almonds: Shared in Greece for purity, fertility, resilience, and sweetness
• rice: Thrown or sprinkled for fruitfulness and abundance
• sugar cubes: Placed on the bride in Greece for a sweet marriage
• chicken: Slaughtered in some Chinese provinces to determine wedding dates
• crumbs: Saved from wedding cake to ensure future marriage

Symbols: Rice and grain The ring The veil Garlands and flowers The colour red Gold and jewellery The colour white Water and washing Bread

Questions people ask about Wedding superstitions

See also

LoutrophorosAn ancient Greek vessel that carried water for a bride's bath or marked an unmarried death.DirndlThe bodice, skirt and apron dress worn by brides in the German-speaking Alps.Wedding ringA metal circle worn on the finger to show that a person is married.Care clothA linen or silk cloth held over the heads of a bride and groom during a Christian wedding blessing.

Good reading and sources

• Wedding superstitions on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.