Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-03-18
Marriage superstitions.

Since marriage become an institutions
there have been certain signs and super
stitions that have chung TO its celebration
through all ages and in all countries. Even
to-day i'm the most civilized nations We
have not entirely rid our minds of these
superstitions, and warrant there is never
a bride but INDUCES herself in looking for
some happy omen. Few people are
dauntless enough to be married on Fri
day, and we all have the most unlimited
confidence in that old shoe thrown after
the newly welded pair. Nearly every
bride of to-day wears about her when she
is married some trifiing thing borrowed
from lady friend, and all know that
"Blest is the bride on whom the sun doth
shine," and are equally certain that
ITO change the name and net the letter,
L. change for the worse and cot for the 6etter'
So on, quite indefinitely it is wonderful
how these ancient signs are handed down
from generation to generation, and how
impotent reason is to do away with their
hold upon the human mind. Say what
you will, we are naturally given to SUI
perstitious fears, and there are the few
est people who are not more
or less affected by them. But let us recall
a few Of the olden beliefs concerning mar
riage superstitions In the earliest we'd
dings we read of among the Jews we find
that the fourth day Of the week was con-
sidered the unlucky day for virgins to
wed, and the fifth for widows. The Ro-
mans also believed that certain days were
unfaverable for the performance of mar
rage rites, and these were the Calends,
Nones and Ides of every month, the whole
months of February and May, and many
of their festivals. June was considered the
most propitious month of the year for
matrimony, especially if the day chosen
were that of the full moon or the conju
ton OF the sun and the moon. The
month of May was especially to be
avoided, as it was under the influence of
spirits adverse to happy households, and
torcenturies this superstitltion seems to
prevail in Italy against May marriages,
and even to this day prevails in some parts
OF England and our own country. In
China marriages are positively prohibited
at certain times and seasons OH account of
their being unlucky.
There wac at one time a superstition
current In England against marrying on
lnnocents' Day, the 18th of December,
day of ill-omen, because it vase the one
which commemorated Herod's massacre
oil the children. And it is still thought
unlucky to marry in Lent. MARRY i'm
Lent and you'll live to repent" An old
line also says, MAY never was We month
of love-" and another. "Who marries be-
tween We sickle and We scythe will never
strive" The old rhyme that we,have all
heard tells us to marry ON
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for h alth,
Wednesday the best daysof I'll, -
Thursday for crosses,
Friday for losses,
saturday no luck at ALL"
st one time it was thought that all
those who married on Tuesdays and
Thursdays would be happy. Among
the Romans no marriage was celebrated
without an augury being first consulted.
In the middle ages it was considered an
ill-omen if the bridal party, in going to
the church, met monk, priest, hare, dog,
cat, lizard or serpent, while all would 90
well if wolf, spider or toad were en-
cOuntered.
1t is lucky if the initials of welded
couple spell word.
In the south of England it is said to be
unlucky Tor bride TO look i'm the glass
after she is completely dressed before she
goes 20 the church, so a glove, or some
other article, is put on after the last look
has been taken at the mirror. Gray
horses at wedding are lucky. it is sup
posed to be unlucky if a bride does not
weep on her wedding day. In Scotland
it is considered an unhappy omen if a
couple are disappointed in getting mar
ried on the day first fixed for that pur-
pose.
In the Isle of man it is believed that it
lnsures good luck to carry salt in the
pocket when going to be married. At
Hull it is considered unlucky togo in at
one door and 60 out at another when a
person gets married.
Whoever goes to sleep first on the we'd
ding night will die first.
II there is an odd number of guests at a
wedding, one is sure to die within the sue
ceeding twelve months.