New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-02
MAY WEDDINGS AND OLD SHOE,

There were also other prohibited times, but q
where was the whole month Of May put under 4
ecclesiastical ban. The prejudice, or supsn'
ton, must therefore be credited to some std
. origin, doubtless to one much more ancient u
the Christian church, as indicated In the lina
Ovid. It,may be added that it prevails in P7ss1
and in most European countries at least 40 ND
as in Great Britain and America.
In contrast to May, June Is considered ~
ticularly fortunate month for weddings, and 4
this, too, we may bark back to Ovid for authors
Recognizing the unauspicious character OF May
carefully Investigated the calendar to detsruh,
the best time for his daughters wedding n
finally selected June as good to the man q,
happy to the maid" But the choice Of June u
never been so general as the avoidance Of hi1
The ancient Greeks preferred January to al oid
times. In Russia there is a belief that mat<As
made at Easter bring wealth; at Asesutsl
health; at Whitsunday, domestic peace and hr,
pness, and at Trinity, many children.
So much, then, for the question about M
weddings. Now about the old shoes.
The throwing Of old shoes has for ages bss'
considered fortunate, not alone at weddng VI
on all occasions. Ben Jonson in his "Masqus 4
the Gypsies" makes one say
"Hurl after me an old shoe,
III be merry whate'er / do"
Other writers Of old times speak Of casting q
shoes at shopkeepers to promote prospshs 4
trade, and other uses Of the same custem-
As specially applied to weddings. there b N
picion that the throwing Of old shoss-ss ~
slippers, for all thst-had at hrst . signihsss|
which would surely be most objectfonsoh 4
twentieth century brides. II seems TO have -
q token Of the complete subsection Of the ~
to her lord and master. In the East . shoe I
slipper was publicly borne at the head Of ~
bridal procession in indication Of the brides ssl
lection, and at some Jewish weddings the bnS'
groom used to strike the bride . blow win u
shoe as a sign that she was thereafter to b NJ
mssive to his will. Among the HISTORIANS "
the custom for the bridegroom 10 kick the bns'
and for her then to remove from his foot the ~
with which he had kicked her. To this ds5 -
is a common custom in Russia for Q bridee".
on his wedding night to require the bride v "
off his boots. In one of them is q whip, 90
the other gift If she pulls off first the ~
containing the whip, she gets q stroke from Fl
lash, and is to expect foggings thereafter ."
the gift is first disclosed her married life WI n
happy. 1t is related of Martin Luther that ~
after performing the wedding eermony ."
couple, he took off the bridegroon's shoe "
placed it upon the brides pillow, as sign y.
she should in all things and at all times Do W
scrvient to her husband.
Still another common variant was the thr''ss
Of the brides shoe, or her stocking, among y
wedding guests as favor to BE eagerly eonss1'"
for and much priced. This used TO be much 81
among the Germans The bride, on rstriss
her chamber, flung her shoe back smoas "
guests, and whoever caught and held It vas ~
to be happily married soon In Scotland h@
still custom of having the bride tarow Der :"
stocking-after removing IL from her fo'b
course!-over the shoulder OF some person =.
is then supposed to be sure TO be the nen
married. More than two centuries ago ii ~
custom for both bridegroom and bride to w.
shoes and stockings at the company, and ons :
writer explains il as an indication that
marriage had been their own free will set
which they themselves alone were responsible
More to the present point, however, va
practice, prevalent in those same early os''
throwing shoes or stockings at the bricS
The articles thus thrown were at hrst hs",<
those belonging TO the bride and groom. 4,
brides stocking or shoe was intrusted
young men, and the groom's to the girls; she "a
ever succeeded in hitting the bride or gree: II
the article thrown was thus assured . spss@
happy marriage