FISHERMAN’S LUCK
In New England, many professional fishermen insert a coin into a cork and set it afloat before leaving port in the morning. Their hope is that the offering will bring them luck in the form of a good catch. In other parts of America, fishermen who want their luck to continue make it a point to throw back the first fish they catch. In the South, where every fish counts, the first fish is hung from a tree instead. Some fishermen produce luck by spitting on the bait. Most believe that if someone asks them how many fish they have caught, revealing the number will prevent them from catching any more. Many also believe that changing poles during a day of fishing will result in bad luck.
THEATRICAL LUCK
Actors live in a world of make-believe, but luck is very real to them. It helps them explain how they got the part or, if their luck is bad, why they didn't. So many things bring luck (both good or bad) in the theater that it is a rare actor who doesn't consider luck almost more important than talent. Among the things actors believe is that a bad dress rehearsal guarantees a good opening night. Some are convinced that the final lines must not be spoken until the opening because the last line signifies perfection, which must be saved until the critics are present. If you have ever wondered why the curtain doesn’t go up on time, it is because the performers believe it is lucky to start the show thirteen minutes late. If one of them trips on stage, it is not a disaster at all, but a sign of good luck. In spite of their fervent wishes for good luck, it is unlucky to say "good luck" to a performer. They prefer to hear "break a leg," a wish they hope will fool the fates.
WEDDING LUCK
Few events in human life have more customs and objects related to luck than weddings. It is entirely appropriate, considering that this step may require more luck than any other. The list of taboos to discourage bad luck and charms to attract good luck is almost endless. Most that are followed in America have come to us from the various European cultures. They are maintained in the belief that they will bring good luck and happiness to the couple at a time when their lives are changing, hopefully for the better.
Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th.
The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:
Monday for wealth ~ Tuesday for health ~ Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses ~ Friday for crosses ~ Saturday for no luck at all.
Advice on which month to marry in is given by the following rhyme:
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true.
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bred.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see.
Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Marry in Lent, live to repent ~ Lent was thought an inappropriate time for a wedding as this was a time of abstinence. June was considered to be a lucky month to marry in because it is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage. The Summer as a whole was considered a good time to marry and this is partly to do with the sun's association with fertility. In Scotland one popular custom was for the bride to "walk with the sun" to bring her good luck. She would walk from east to west on the south side of the church and then continue walking around the church three times.
Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe
The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it are much older. The "something old" represents the couples friends who will hopefully remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in marriage would be passed on to the new bride. "Something new" symbolizes the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future. The "something borrowed" is often lent by the bride's family and is an item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck. The custom of the bride wearing "something blue" originated in ancient Israel where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity. The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the couples married life. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress. It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony. The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed. If the seamstress pricks her finger with a pin as she is working on the wedding dress, the resulting bloodstain on the fabric should not be removed. It will bring luck and everlasting happiness to the bride who wears it. Most brides today marry in white which symbolizes maidenhood. This tradition started by the rich in sixteenth century. The tradition was given a boost by Queen Victoria who chose to marry in white instead of silver which was the traditional color of Royal brides. Before the white dress brides wore their best dress. The color was a matter of preference. The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress colors:
Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen, (unless the bride is Irish)
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However, returning to the mirror once she has begun her journey will result in bad luck. Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is thought to bring good luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include lambs, toads, spiders, black cats and rainbows. Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.
In the past there have been a number of customs involving shoes which were thought to bring good luck. The best known, which is still upheld, is to tie shoes to the back of the newlyweds' car. This has evolved from the Tudor custom where guests would throw shoes at the newlywed couple. It was considered lucky if they or their carriage were hit. Less well known is for the bride's father to give the groom a pair of the bride's shoes to symbolize the passing of responsibility for the daughter to her new husband. A variation of the custom is for the groom to tap the bride on the forehead with one of the shoes to assert his dominance. The custom of the bride throwing her bouquet shoulder was originally performed by her throwing one of her shoes over her shoulder. |
Shopping Cart
