Something Old. Something New...
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
United States
April 14, 2008 11:54am CST
Something borrowed. Something blue. (And a silver sixpence in her shoe.)
Has anyone else ever heard of this old wedding tradition or am I losing my mind?
I was talking to my daughter about my upcoming wedding wondering where on earth I was going to get myself a sixpence since they haven't been minted since like 1967,(and I don't live in England) and she was looking at me like I was crazy.
It seems her step mother didn't bother with this tradition on her wedding day and it got me to thinking how many brides actually still believe in this "superstition"?
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy.
"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past.
"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead.
"Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
"Something blue" has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color.
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe.
Did you have these things with you on your wedding day?
3 people like this
12 responses
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
14 Apr 08
There are lots of sixpence on ebay, typically for less than $5. You could get one there. (Yes, I looked. I dunno why. I'm weird like that.)
I didn't have a sixpence in my shoe. I think I had all the others though.
My wedding dress was actually green, which is a wedding color mainly because of its connection to fertility. I used it also as a sort of nature theme, because the main green fabric of the dress was covered by a white lace overlay with a leaf pattern, so that the leaves would appear green because of the color underneath.
I did jump over a broom too. 
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Lecanis, I did not see you wearing the virgin Mary colors at all. Your dress sounds beautiful. I so adore your descriptive theme. Mark and I jumped over a broom also, but it was later and in private... we did alot of things that evening that one would only want to do in private as a matter of fact :)))
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
14 Apr 08
Heh, it is a beautiful dress. If all my wedding pics were still on my computer (which they're not, because it just lost everything a couple days ago) I would show you. *pouts*
We had a lot of fun in private too, but the broom was part of the ceremony we wanted to share with our friends. Our ceremony was awesome, since we had our UU minister friend there who did a great job of melding our two faiths into one ceremony.
My wedding was kind of extra interesting in a way because my matron of honor of the time was also my girlfriend. Ummm, me and my weird life.
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Yes, that is what I said. lol Now answer the question! and you forgot about the sixpence!
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I never have heard the sixpence at all either LMAo but I had the other 4 things..old, new borrowed and blue.
@histechnoangel (356)
• United States
16 Apr 08
Yep! I love this tradition... but I didn't know about the sixpence!! That would explain a lot, LOL! I think when we renew our vows, I shall include the sixpence. As for where you could get one.. try eBay, craigslist.com, or a flea market? Good luck!!!
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
19 Apr 08
Nope didn't have any of those in my first marriage. LOL!! And notice I said my first marriage. LOL!!!
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
16 Apr 08
I've heard of all of those so you aren't losing your mind and you are not alone in it Cyn. Haven't done any of this as I've not approached the day in question.
Perhaps a silver coin could work if youare missing out on a traditional sixpence. If I think of anything else I'll bring it up.
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
15 Apr 08
nope not all..and thats include the sixpence thing...but i had borrowed something during my wedding..and i believe on those things but not sure if its true...coz i just follow what the olds instructed me to do..and i think theres no harm in trying..but not really sure if its really true...
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Cyn, I thought it went Something old Something new something borrowed Something blue..... LMAO but then again what the hell do I know. My mother gave me everything in the verse I just shared with you, but not the sixpence. LMAO Maybe thats why we lived so broke for so long.
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
14 Apr 08
I heard the sixpence was replaced by a penny in the left shoe.
I did it when I got married and we were still broke all the way through...Good luck! LOL
@novataylor (6570)
• United States
14 Apr 08
Oops, sorry, I got crazy for a sec, I guess. I've never heard about the sixpence part, Cyn, but yes, of course, the rest of it has been imprinted into my brain since I don't know when. And I did have all of those things when I got married. You know what's really weird? What I was thinking of when I just typed that sentence, was my FIRST wedding, I swear. Wow, very strange, buy anyway, in my last, and most important wedding, yes, I had those things too. It's superstition for me, I guess, and I insisted on it. I also insist on wearing pearls, but that's my own individual 'tradition' I guess. I love those traditions, and having the garter, my new husband taking it off of my leg in front of all of our wedding guests, the tossing of it to the men, yeah, I love all of that. It's what I've seen all my life and it stands to reason that I'd want it too, just like in the movies, just like in my 'dream wedding' scenario. If there are any traditions that you want to follow for your own wedding, Cyn, then by all means do it. Make it as close to your idea of perfect that you can get. We pretty much can never get exactly down to a T perfect, but we can sure try and get as close as humanly possible. Give yourself everything you want, or make sure that someone else gives it to you. It's truly your day and it should be the way you want it to be. Be selfish. Demand. Insist. You're the bride and what you say goes! Got it? Mama has spoken.
@elflying (55)
• China
15 Apr 08
I learned that tradition from "Friens",in the episode where they went to Las Vegas,and Chandler and Monica decided to get marriaged.But i didn't remember they refered the sixpence part,which is very interesting.Thank you,i'm happy to know that.Wish you a wonderful wedding.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
15 Apr 08
What an interesting tradition! I have heard of all the parts except the sixpence in the shoe. I believe for my first wedding I did have something old and something new, something borrowed and something blue. I am not sure or not if I had anything like this at my second wedding but this one has been much happier =)
