Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed

It is a well-known fact that every bride should have – Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, And a silver sixpence in your shoe. The items specified in this old rhyme are all good luck charms and custom has it that they should, if possible, be given to the bride by close friends and family. By the act of giving or donating something to the bride they are actually seen to be giving her both their love and their good wishes for her future happiness.

Something old – this represents continuity, connecting the bride with the past, and with an old family heirloom or piece of her grandmother’s jewellery with her on the day she can feel that she is carrying on a family tradition. Taking with her an artefact of sentimental value from her childhood acknowledges her family’s care and the support she has had while growing to womanhood.

Something new – this symbolises hope for the future and can be anything recently purchased that hasn’t been used before. It can be something as simple as a handkerchief or even a new lipstick or perfume. Something borrowed – this represents borrowed happiness, so whatever the item is it should de donated by someone close to the bride who is seen as a happy person. Ideally, the item should be returned after the wedding with a note of thanks. Something blue – blue stands for purity, love and faithfulness and can be present as the colour of any item or piece of clothing worn by the bride. It could be a solitary flower or even blue nail varnish.

A silver sixpence in your shoe – this is the one part of the old saying not generally adhered to these days, but brides who want to be very traditional will find that silver sixpence pieces can be bought online for this purpose and should be worn in the left shoe. This is to symbolise prosperity and good fortune.

There is a kind of timeless magic in old rhymes and sayings, and even people who refuse to pay heed to superstition still feel the need to follow these age-old traditions on their wedding day. Without this historical continuity much of the romance and mystery of the occasion would be lost.