Wedding superstitions
The wedding and the customs for luck
Few days have gathered as many customs as the wedding day. Here is the history behind some of them, from the bridal crowns of Bergen to a Victorian rhyme from England.
The bridal crown
In Norwegian tradition the bridal crown was a symbol of the bride as a virgin. As early as the Middle Ages many churches had their own crowns that brides borrowed. From the late 1500s goldsmiths in Bergen made bridal crowns.
In the late 1800s the myrtle wreath took over for most brides. But the bridal crown lives on, especially with the bunad in Western Norway and Trøndelag.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
The rhyme is English and dates from the Victorian era. The custom is described in 1866, and the rhyme appears in print in 1871. It is linked to Lancashire in the north of England. The line about a sixpence in her shoe was added later.
Today the rhyme has travelled the world, Norway included. The old stands for the bond with family, the new for the future, the borrowed for luck from a happily married couple, and the blue for faithfulness.
Other familiar customs
Some customs have long roots, others are newer than they seem. What they share is the wish to give love a good start.
Rain on the wedding day
Many say rain on the wedding day brings luck, perhaps because rain meant growth and harvest.
Not seeing the bride before the ceremony
The groom should not see the bride in her dress before the ceremony. The custom is alive and well, even if many couples now choose a private “first look”.
Weddings lasting days
In the old farming society a wedding could last several days, with food, dancing and the whole village gathered.
Kransekake
The ring cake kransekake is the wedding cake itself in Norway and Denmark, and belongs to the great celebrations.
Make your own custom
Many couples today create their own customs: a bouquet with flowers from grandmother’s garden, a handkerchief that has been passed down, or a letter from a grandmother read aloud at dinner. That is how new traditions are born.
The Moon Letter
Get the moon’s crystal, intention and ritual at every new and full moon.