Irish Folklore: Traditions, Beliefs and Superstitions Around Your Special Day For Better For Worse
In this blog we focus on Irish heritage, folklore, pagan background to ensure good luck charm comes your way on your wedding day
Whether they are all true, who knows, but weddings are steeped in superstitions across many countries. It springs to mind of people gathered, sharing stories together. With many Irish superstitions and ideas centred around advice, let’s look at some Irish good luck during a wedding day, and bad luck that you would want to avoid. All lucky 7 of them!
Luck of the Irish
Good luck beliefs for a wedding include:
1. Wearing a blue dress, or something blue
2. Lock the doors of the church once the groom arrives (ensures they don’t run off!)
3. Wildflowers in the bouquet
4. Getting married in the sunshine
5. Ringing of the bells after the wedding
6. Place a sixpence in your shoes
7. Incorporate a horseshoe: either carry one, or have the design sewn into your clothing but remember to keep it upright
Best Day to Marry On
The luckiest day to marry on of course in Ireland has got to be St Patrick’s day. Here’s the proverb around days of the week to marry:
“Marry on Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
and Saturday no day at all”
Is it Just Fantasy?
Whether you are a sceptic and feel these old stories should crumble away as foolish tales or believe these give us an insight into our ancestors’ beliefs and attitudes towards a marriage; we know that weddings are steeped in traditions handed down over hundreds of years.
So, lets now look at things to avoid on your wedding day, as it will bring doom and gloom:
Bad Luck
1. Avoid breaking a cup on the morning of your wedding morning
2. Fingers crossed it doesn’t rain on the wedding day, as considered to bring doom on the couple of a lifetime of hardship - maybe that’s where the phrase ‘happy is the bride that the sun shines on’ relates to
3. Avoid contact with a dog during the morning of the wedding day, as if a dog licks the bride or groom, then it’s a sure sign of bad luck
4. Don’t put flowers in your hair yourself
5. Guests wearing green
6. Avoid marrying on a Saturday
7. Horseshoe held upside down: all that good luck will pour away……
Pages Relating to More Irish Wedding Superstitions
To continue bringing you good luck on wedding day, including sixpences and horseshoes, click here
There’s lots of ideas about Irish Blessings to enjoy.
Read our Irish Toasts to share in your wedding speech raising a glass to the happy couple
If you want to incorporate these ideas when planning your personal wedding day, to ensure good, just in case, I hope these bring fun, joy and good fortune to your magical celebration!
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Amanda-Louise is the creative director of her UK award winning business, Amanda-Louise Knight Weddings Proposals & Events. She provides advice to modern couples who want unforgettable weddings that set the tone about their celebrations and love.
Amanda-Louise is a current celebrant, and has been involved in the events industry for over 30 years. Her love for logistics, she is wedding and marriage proposal planner in the South West of England. A dog lover herself, she is owner of Somerset Wedding Day Dog Chaperone Service ensuring furry babies are included or cared for by her team.
She is mentor to other celebrants and venue consultant to her corporate business clients dedicating her time to helping them grow their own businesses.
And it all starts with making a date with Amanda-Louise!
Blog Disclaimer - the article is opinion based by the author only, the content is for information purposes only, and as such is not guaranteed. Whilst its intended to be accurate there may be some unintentional errors, mistakes or omissions and therefore may be subject of updating. In accordance with any advice articles should the reader wish to rely on this information, they do so at their own risk. Any prices quoted are accurate at time of writing content.
