Something old, something new …
Wedding trends change, fashions come and go, but one thing that does not seem to change is the age-old tradition of the bride wearing “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. But where does this custom come from? Well, for starters, this tradition is followed because it is believed to convey good luck, and also, each item has a certain symbolism.
The “something old” represents continuity, as the bride is about to enter marriage, and marriages have been taking place since time immemorial. However, the “something new” represents a new departure for the bride, she is embarking upon a new life, so we have a mixture of old and new. The something old could be an antique item of jewelry, or an accessory that has been in the family for generations. The something new, may well be the wedding dress itself, or it could be the bouquet of flowers.
The “something borrowed” represents the support and friendship offered by friends and family to the bride, to help her through this special day, and the borrowed item could well be an item of jewelry or clothing lent to the bride by close female family members.
As for the “something blue”, well this goes back to the days when the color blue was thought to represent purity and fidelity. Many brides choose a blue ribbon as the something blue, and this can be worn in the hair or on the dress, but there are many other possibilities as to what the something blue might be – it might even be nice blue lingerie!
So, in the words of an old English rhyme, we have the symbols of so many things that we value about marriage: continuity, a new life, the support of family and friends, and faithfulness.
Filed under: Wedding Traditions
