Ancient Folk Lore  
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Marriage - stories from ancient folklore

Marriage Service and Wedding Day II

Origin of Confetti

The custom of throwing an old shoe after the bride is still believed to propitiate success, and is kept up in most places with as much enthusiasm as ever. It is customary, too, in most places now-a-days, for showers of rice to be thrown after the bride and bridegroom as they take their departure from the bride's home, as this is thought to promote their success and happiness in their new life.

In Yorkshire it is a common saying ...

Be sure when you go to get married that you don't go in at one door and out at another, or you will always be unlucky.

It was formerly believed that a union could never be happy if the bridal party, on their way to church, were unfortunate enough to meet one of the following animals, viz. a hare, a dog, a cat, a lizard, or serpent; while on the other hand, if a spider, toad, or wolf came across their path, they were sure to have prosperity and happiness.

In Perthshire, Scotland ill-luck is thought to pursue the married couple who have their banns published at the end of one, and are married at the beginning of another quarter of a year.

It is a good omen for the sun to shine upon the bride...

While that others do divine, Blest is the bride on whom the sun doth shine.

Conversely it rains while the wedding party are on their journey either to or from church, then a life of unhappiness is to be expected.

this website has been put together from a series of old texts that i came across, while researching fairies and the world of fae in folklore, i thought there was enough here to share with other people on these other topics. these pages are meant as an introduction or a bit of fun reading, for those interested in delving deeper,
find the source material on the reference page

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