No 55: a Theme!

Monday, February 23, 2009

This week, I plan to muse on a classic wedding rhyme.
The traditional wedding custom of wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” actually finishes with the line, “and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” So we know it’s an English practice, and historians believe it began during the Victorian era. "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. 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."

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