Irish Wedding Traditions
There are so many Irish Traditions, customs and folklore to draw upon, that it would be bad luck to be of Irish descent and not take advantage of all the possibilities.
After delving into history and folklore, here is my selection of customs to think about for your own Traditional Irish Wedding based on how weddings were celebrated in Ireland long ago.
- Newly engaged couples were presented with a bell, to be used in case of an argument breaking out between the two lovers. As soon as the bell was rung, the argument had to stop, and the dispute would be settled immediately. After the couple got married the bell was placed in a fancy cabinet and took pride of place in their home. In true accordance with the tradition, after one partner had rung the bell to stop an argument, it was the turn of the other partner to ring when another little problem popped up!
The chime of bells was not only to restore harmony it was thought to keep evil spirits away, and also remind couples of their wedding vows. Giving a bell as a gift has become a very popular Irish Tradition. Some brides have even given guests tiny bells to ring as she walks down the aisle.
- Another quaint custom was to invite the groom to the bride’s family home, just before the wedding. The family cooked a goose with apple-potato stuffing in his honor, this was called ‘Aitin the gander’. Hence the old Irish saying “his goose was cooked”!
- The old Irish quotes ‘Marry in May and Rue the Day’ and ‘Marry in April if you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man’, caused quite a stir in the old days. It is well recorded that many a bride changed her wedding date after hearing these traditions and got married in April.
- It was unlucky to marry on a Saturday and those who married in Harvest would spend their time gathering. It was thought to be lucky if you married during a ‘Glowing Moon or a Flowing Tide’.
- A fine day meant Good Luck, especially if the sun shone on the bride. If you’re a Roman Catholic, one way to make certain it wouldn’t rain was to leave the statue ‘Infant of Prague’ outside the night before your wedding.
- It was thought to be lucky to hear a Cuckoo or see three Magpies the morning of your wedding.
- To meet a funeral on the road meant bad luck for the couple. If it was known that a funeral procession was planned for that day, the wedding party always took a different road.
- Irish brides used to carry a real horseshoe for good luck, turned up ways so that the luck wouldn’t run out. Most Irish brides today still carry fancy replica horseshoes usually given by the flowergirl or pageboy.
- The charm of the ‘Magic Hanky’ involved the bride carrying a special hanky, which with a few stitches, could be changed into a christening bonnet for the first baby. Then with a couple of snips, it could be turned back into a hanky for the child to use at his/her wedding.
- Many Irish Brides wore a wreath of wildflowers in their hair that included a flower called ‘Bells of Ireland’; these could also be carried in the bouquet.
- A man should always be the first to wish joy to the new bride, never a woman.
- When leaving the church someone must throw an old shoe over the bride’s head so she will have good luck. If you do this make sure the thrower has a good aim!!!
- It was considered bad luck for the bride to wear green, though it has been said that it is bad luck for anyone to wear green at an Irish Wedding.
- It was bad luck for the bride or groom to sing at their own wedding.
- Couples ate salt and oatmeal at the beginning of their reception: Each of them took three mouthfulls as a protection against the power of the evil eye.
- It was considered bad luck if a glass or cup was broken on the wedding day.
- When the couple were dancing the bride darn’t have both feet of the floor at the same time because the fairies would grab her. Fairies love beautiful shiny things and one of their favourites is a bride! There’s many an Irish legend about brides being spirted away from their wedding by the Little People.
- Irish dancers were in abundance at weddings in the old days. Today it’s very popular to hire a group of young dancers. They could hand out your program before the ceremoney and later dance at the reception. Dressed in full regalia, it would add a real Irish touch of pageantry and colour to your wedding.
- The bride’s mother-in-law broke a piece of the wedding cake on the bride’s head as she entered the house after the ceremony. This was believed to make them friends for life.
- The top teir of the wedding cake was an Irish Whiskey cake, which was saved for the Christening of the first baby. Now days a bottle of Champagne is saved from the reception so it can be used to ‘wet the babies head’ at the Christening.
One of the oldest drinks in Ireland is a honey wine named ‘Bunratty Meade’. Tradition states that it was consumed at weddings, because it was thought to promote virility. Couples also drank it from special goblets for a full month after the wedding, which is supposedly where we get the term ‘honeymoon’. This was to protect the couple from the fairies coming to spirit the bride away.
I will add more as I find them, please feel free to add any not mentioned to my blog.
Sláinte!
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