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If you’re planning to get married, you may have heard one of the most well-known wedding sayings instructing brides to wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” for good fortune. At Holden, we like to push the boundaries of traditional wedding ideas and rules, so by no means are we telling you to borrow a pair of diamond earrings or run to the store for a blue garter (or to pull a Chandler and Monica from Friends and “borrow” - aka steal - a blue sweatshirt just to keep the tradition alive). Also, your wedding may not even have a bride! But understanding the history behind wedding sayings and traditions can still be fun.
This popular Victorian Era English wedding saying first appeared in 1871 in the UK, in St James Magazine (although the bride only mentioned the new, borrowed, and blue. The article itself is mad old now, though, so it technically has it all). The "old" was added for the first time in 1876 in a newspaper article describing a wedding, and the adage in its entirety made its first US appearance in a 1905 book by American etiquette writer Emily Post. But what does it all mean?
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: A Translation Guide
The Old
"Something old" is intended to scare off the Evil Eye, a superstition believed to cause infertility–just one of many superstitious beliefs about wedding traditions from the past.
The New
Optimism for the future! This makes sense to us (also, Holden rings are new, just saying)!
The Borrowed
"Something borrowed" traditionally came from a happily married person, another example of old-school wedding beliefs meant to encourage fertility: in fact, the borrowed item is *traditionally* meant to be undergarments of a friend/family member with children, to get the fertility vibes, uh, flowing. To this we say, to each their own, but also…ew to borrowed underwear?
The Blue
Another item worn to scare off the Evil Eye. "Something blue" was often a garter worn by the bride on her wedding day for good luck. Fun (sort of) fact: garters are sometimes thought of as a symbol of deflowering, and in some ceremonies, the groom removes the garter with his teeth and throws it to unmarried male guests (similar to the bouquet toss tradition, but far more intimate!).
The Takeaway
If you’re feeling extra superstitious on your wedding day, this wedding ritual also has a line about "a sixpence in her shoe" - specifically a silver sixpence in the left shoe of the bride. Hopefully she'll stay balanced as she walks down the aisle with a British coin in only one of her wedding shoes. Traditionally, the sixpence was meant to ward against jilted suitors. You know, just to be on the safe side about anyone you may have ghosted on Tinder...
Okay, so overall, the history behind the saying has a lot to do with warding off evil spirits and bringing on babies. In the twenty-first century, as a society we are definitely less afraid of the Evil Eye and know a bit more about the science behind fertility, but wedding traditions and superstitious beliefs about wedding luck can be fun regardless of where they came from.
Here at Holden, we want to take some of the headache and confusion out of the wedding industry and your special day, so if there's another tradition you want us to unpack (like why do people carry a wedding bouquet and what's up with the wedding veil, anyway?), shoot us an email at help@hiholden.com and we’ll tackle it next!
Questions? Give us a shout at help@hiholden.com or a ring (pun intended) at 646.722.6817.
Photo of Julia Kinnunen's wedding courtesy of Angela and Evan Photography.
FAQs
1. What are some common wedding sayings?
Popular wedding sayings include “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” and “a sixpence in your shoe.” These phrases are rooted in history and are still used today.
2. Where did the “something old, something new…” wedding saying come from?
This wedding saying originated in Victorian England and was intended to bring good luck and protect the bride from bad spirits and infertility.
3. What are some superstitious beliefs about wedding days?
Traditional superstitious beliefs about wedding ceremonies include warding off the Evil Eye, wearing blue for protection, and placing a sixpence in the bride’s shoe to avoid bad luck.
4. What are some historical wedding rituals?
Old wedding rituals include the garter toss, the bouquet toss, and wearing family heirlooms. Many of these customs had symbolic meanings tied to luck and fertility.
5. Do wedding beliefs still matter today?
While modern couples may not believe in the old superstitions, wedding beliefs and traditions can still hold emotional or cultural meaning and add a fun touch to the celebration.
About Holden
If your love story doesn’t follow tradition, your jewelry shouldn’t either. Holden makes engagement rings and wedding rings for the people rewriting what love looks like. Explore bold Multi-Stone styles, refined Center Stone Solitaires, or luminous Gemstone designs made to celebrate your way forward.