Why does a bride wear something blue?

Answer 1

The next line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in theVictorian era.

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.

As for the colorful item, 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. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.

Answer 2

In ancient Rome, wearing blue symbolizes modesty, love and fidelity. Also it's an indication before the late 19th century that if a woman wears a blue dress on her wedding day, it symbolizes purity and good fortune.

Answer 3

Blue was considered a sign of purity in biblical times, then the tradition evolved into wearing blue on the bottom of the brides dress. Today, the brides have transitioned it to wearing blue in the garter

Answer 4

You don't have to but age-old tradition states that the bride should wear "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue".

Answer 5

for good luck