Unlucky Month for Weddings is an annual designation observed in July
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 bread.
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
The well-known expression, “Tie the Knot”; meaning to get married or engaged, originates from the ancient Celtic custom of Hand-fasting, in which the newly-wedded couple had their hands tied together with an Endless Knot, (or Eternity Knot) in a symbolic ritual.
Filipinos still adhere to numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis but maybe backed-up by some past experiences (yet can be dismissed as mere coincidence). Below are just a few that concerns weddings. Some are still practiced to this day primarily because of ‘there’s nothing to lose if we comply’ attitude while the others are totally ignored for it seemed downright ridiculous. In early Filipino custom, the groom-to-be threw his spear at the front steps of his intended’s home, a sign that she has been spoken for. These days, a ring suffices as the symbol of engagement and Unity for both parties. Read on…
DO’S AND GOOD LUCK…
1. The groom must arrive first before the bride at the church, to avoid bad luck.
2. Heavy downpour on wedding day means good luck
3. EGG offerings to Santa Clara
4. Giving an arinola (CHAMBERPOT) as wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to newlyweds.
5. Broken glass and plates (by accident) during the reception brings good luck to the newlyweds.
6. The bride should step on the groom’s foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree to her every whim (I will surely won’t forget this! ahahaha).
7. During the ceremony, bride must stand first just so they won’t be dominated by the groom.
8. Couple should put COIN inside their shoe for a prosperous married life. A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe is to wish the bride wealt.
9. If you marry during the Full Moon, you will have good luck and good fortune.
10. Monthly period during the wedding day is lucky, couple will have many children.
11. If it rains during the wedding, it means prosperity and happiness for the newlyweds.
12. Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their life.
13. An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.
14. On The Way to The Ceremony, It is good luck for the bride to encounter a lamb on her way to the church to get married.
15. It is good luck for the bride to encounter a Dove on her way to the church to get married; because Doves mate for live. A DOVE symbolizes love, peace, fidelity, prosperity and good luck. If a Dove is seen on your wedding day, a happy home is assured.
16. It is good luck for the bride to encounter a Frog on her way to the church to get married.
17. It is good luck for the bride to cross paths with a Black Cat on her way to the church to get married.
18. It is good fortune for the bride to see a policeman, clergyman, doctor or blind man on her way to the church.
19. If the bride sees a Rainbow on her way to the ceremony, it is a sign of good luck for the couple.
20. Sunshine on the way to the church is good luck.
21. Your marriage will be filled with good fortune if the groom happens upon a Pigeon, Wolf or Goat, on his way to the ceremony.
22. The groom should give a Coin to the first person he sees on his way to the church for good luck.
23. It is the best of luck omen for the bride to find a Spider in her gown on her wedding day.
24. A tear from the bride & goom or a child during the wedding service is considered lucky.
25 Snow on your wedding day is a sign of fertility and prosperity and a very successful Marriage
26. An Open Umbrella (in Chinese culture, the umbrella is red) over the bride will protect her from evil.
27. Finding a tear in the Wedding Veil is a Omen of Good luck!
28. Bridal Wear – Remember the old saying… “Something old something new, something borrowed something Blue.
29. Wearing a White Wedding Gown Symbolizes virginity and purity.
30. The groom is not supposed to see the bride in all her glory until she walks down the aisle on the day of their wedding.
31. At the Front Door, In order to insure Good luck, the Bride must exit with her right foot first across the threshold.
32. Finding a Spider on the Wedding Dress is a Omen of Good luck!
33. Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the celebrations at the reception. The couple make the first cut together to symbolize their shared future.
34. Blue is the Symbol of Spirituality and Faithfulness. The Bride should wear or carry something Blue to increase her luck in Marriage.
35. Sun with Showers is said to be a good luck.
36. January – A lucky Month for Marriage.
37. June – A very lucky month for Marriage.
38. If a bride cries on her wedding day, those shall be the last tears she ever sheds over her marriage.
39. As for the wedding GARTER, The groom would throw the garter to the men at the wedding and whoever caught it could expect good luck. The garter to be thrown is placed on the brides right leg, just above the knee. Often the bride chooses to wear both a garter to throw as well as a garter that she would keep.
40. For the BOUQUET, It was considered a symbol of happiness. The single woman who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry.
41. Using CONFETTI was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple. Before the use of paper confetti, the married couple was showered with flowers, petals, rice, grains, raisins, nuts, or sweets as the couple emerged from the church.
42. It is said that the first partner who buys a new item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the relationship.
43. Superstition has it that if there is a full moon 1-2 days before the wedding, then your married life will be filled with luck and good fortune.
44. Rumor has it that couples should marry when the second-hand of the clock is going up instead of going down. For example, 2:30 pm. or 10:45 am.
DON’T AND BAD LUCK …
1. A bride who wears PEARLS on her wedding will be an unhappy wife experiencing many heartaches and tears.
2. On the Wedding day, It is bad luck for the Bride and Groom to see each other before the Ceremony.
3. It is Bad Luck to have visible mirrors in the Ceremony area. It is Bad luck for the Bride to see herself in the mirror fully dressed before the wedding… she should leave off one item of clothing such as a shoe or something.
4. Brides shouldn’t try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or the wedding will not push through.
5. The groom who sits ahead of his bride during the wedding ceremony will be a henpecked husband.
6. Knives and other sharp and pointed objects are said to be a bad choice for wedding gifts for this will lead to a broken marriage.
7. Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.
8. Don’t use peep toed shoes for the brides, it should be close shoes and the like.
9. A flame extinguished on one of the WEDDING CANDLES means the one whose candle was extinguished will die ahead of the other. To avoid this, we should use “candelabra” with deep vase for the unity candle.
10. Altar-bound couples are accident-prone and therefore must avoid long drives or traveling before their wedding day for safety.
11. Don’t try the wedding dress before the wedding
12. Don’t use flowers with thorns.
13. Don’t go to any burial ceremony before the wedding day. Also it is said a Bad Omen for the Bride or Groom to pass a funeral on the way to the Wedding.
14. SUKOB – It is considered bad luck for two siblings to marry on the same year.
15. It is bad luck for the bride to meet up with a Lizard, Funeral Procession or a Pig on her way to the church.
16. Unmarried partners should not be paired as secondary sponsors, else they will separate.
17. Single person who sits in the “KABISERA” will never marry (kaya pala bihira or wala aqng nakikitang nakaupo sa may kabisera).
18. It is bad luck for a man to encounter a Blind Person, Pregnant Woman, a Monk, or a Nun on his way to propose.
19. May – This is an unlucky Month for Marriage… this coming from Ancient Rome when May was the month for making offerings to the dead.
20. For the BRIDE to overcome Bad Omens… she should carry salt in her pocket.
21. For the GROOM to overcome Bad Omens… Carry a miniature horseshoe in your pocket.
22. A wedding conducted after sunset is believed to be irretrievably doomed, according to superstition, for not only will the couple’s life together be miserable, but they will lose their children and both go to an early grave.
Engagement Day
If it is on a Monday, for instance, they can look forward to a busy, exciting life; on Tuesday a peaceful and contented existence. Wednesday indicates a good-tempered relationship, while Thursday will able you to achieve all you wish from life. Friday is a day which will demand much hard work, but there will be rewards in time, while Saturday is a day which will give much pleasure.
Engagement Ring
It is said to be unlucky if the one which is chosen has to be altered for any reason. And should the ring wear badly or become loose before the wedding ceremony, this is an omen that the match is not going to be a happy one. It is very unlucky to lose or break an engagement ring.
Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids, of course, always hope to catch the bride’s bouquet when she throws it among them and thus ensure a wedding for themselves. It is very unlucky for a bridesmaid to stumble on her way to the altar for this is said to be a sign that she is destined to become an old maid.
Best Man
It is the best man’s duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church he does not return for any reason. He must also arrange for the groom to carry a small mascot or charm in his pocket on the wedding day.
Bridal Shower
The roots of the customary bridal shower originated in Holland. If a Dutch bride was unfortunate enough to have her father not approve of her choice in husbands, he would not offer a dowry. Her friends would then “shower” her with gifts so she could still be married to her groom, without the help of her father. The first gift the bride opens should be the first gift she uses.
“Bow”-quet
Make sure you hold on to the bows and ribbons that you untie at your bridal/wedding shower. Thread the ribbons through a paper plate (any color) and decorate the plate with all the bows to make “flowers.” On the day or night of your rehearsal, utilize your “bow”-quet in place of your real floral bouquet for good luck.
I’m on the left and you’re on the right
The bride is on the left side of the groom in Christian marriages so that the groom could have easy access to his sword to defend his bride from rival suitors.
Crossing the threshold
After the wedding the bride must enter the new marital home through the main entrance. It is traditional for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold when they enter for the first time. The reason for this is uncertain. One explanation is that the bride will be visited by bad luck if she falls when entering. An alternative is that the bride will be unlucky if she steps into the new home with the left foot first. The bride can avoid both mishaps by being carried. A third explanation is that it symbolizes the old Anglo-Saxon custom of the groom stealing his bride and carrying her off.
Wedding Night
It should always be the husband who locks the front door before going to bed, not the wife, or there will be a quarrel during the night; and superstition adds that whoever falls asleep first on this night will be the first to die.
The Honeymoon
The term “honeymoon” is thought to originate from the times when a man captured his bride. The couple would hide from the bride’s parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.
Surnames
It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This was thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
The sentiment was summarized in the following rhyme:
To change the name and not the letter,
Is to change for the worst and not the better!
Choosing the Month and Day
Although it is unlucky to be married on your birthday, it is particularly lucky if you and your wife share the same birthday – although you must be a year or two apart. 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.
MICKFLIEG 