Свадебные обычаи в Англии

Marriage and Wedding Customs in English-Speaking Countries and Ukraine

There are many customs and superstitions associated with weddings.

A wedding is the occasion when people get married. Marriage is the state of been married. In the past a wedding was seen as a time when people were particularly susceptible to bad luck and evil spirits.

Such as “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” or not being seen by the groom in her wedding dress before the wedding ceremony are known throughout Great Britain and many other part of the word.

It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as here.

Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays, particularly Friday the 13`s, were also considered unlucky. The first half of the week was considered lucky.

The rhyme “Something old…” originated in Victorian times. The “something old” represents the couple’s friends who remain close during the marriage. “Something new” symbolizes the newlyweds` happy and prosperous future. The “something borrowed” is often lent by the bride’s family and 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.

It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress. The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day.

Most brides today marry in white which symbolizes maidenhood. This tradition stated by the rich in the 16^th century. The colour is a matter of preference. A green dress is thought to bee unlucky unless the bride is Irish.

It is said the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship.

Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations. The couple makes the first cut together to symbolize their shared future.

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 were result in bad luck.

Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is thouпре to bring good luck; and other good luck is to see on the way to the ceremony lambs, black cats and rainbows.

Bad whether 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 a believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with wealth.

After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where unmarried female guests group together, Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one of those present to marry.

A parallel custom is for the groom to remove the garter worn by the bride and throw it back over his shoulder toward the unmarried mail guests. The one who catches it will be the next to marry.