Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Something Borrowed

Here I am putting the necklace my grandfather gave me around my daughter's neck. You know the old saw, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver six pence in her shoe."

I looked up where the saying originated and most links said it's Victorian England in history.


Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family. 

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true." 

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings. 

I don't know what she carried that was blue, if there was anything at all. The borrowed and old would be the necklace and the new would be the dress. 

We had one final photo and the bridesmaids and my daughter headed off to the church. It was time for those of us left at the farm to get ready. 


Beverage:  Huckleberry tea


Deb

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