Year: 1876

Since marriage became an institution
there have been certain signs and super
stitions that have clung to its colebra tion
through all ages and in all countries.
Even to-day in the most civilized nations
VIC have not entirely rid our minds of these
superstitions, and warrant there is never
bride but indulges herself in looking for
some happy omen. Few people are daunt-
less enough to be married on Friday, 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 trifing 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 not the letter


Is u change for the worse and not for the better'


SO on, quite indefinitely, it is wonder
ful how these ancient signs are handed
down from generation to generation, and
how important reason is to do away with
their hold upon the human mind Let us
recall few of the olden beliefs concerning
marriage superstitions. In the earliest
weddings we read of among the Jews we
find that the fourth day of the week was
considered the unlucky day for virgins to
wed, and the fifth for widows. The Ro-
mans also believed that certain days were
unfavorable for the performance of mar
riage rites, and these were tie 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 conjunc-
ton of the sun and moon.


The month of May was especially to be
avoided, as it was under the influence of
spirits adverse to happier households, aud
for centuries this superstition seemed 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 on account of
their being unlucky.


There was at one time a superstition
current in England against marrying on
Innocents' Day, the 2Sth of December,
day of i'll omen, because il was the one
which commemorated Herods massacre of
the children. And it is still thought un.
lucky to marry in Lent. "Marry in Lent
and you'll live to repent" An old line
also says, "May never was ye month of
love" and another, "Who marries between
ye sickle and ye sythe will never thrive"
The old rhyme that we have oil heard tells
us to marry on 1879


Monday for wealth,


Tuesday for health,


Wednesday the best day ofall,


Thursday for crosses, lt


Friday for Losses,


Saturday no luck at ALL"


At one time it was thought that all those
who married on Tuesday and Thursdays
would be happy. Among the Romans no
marriage was celebrated without an augur
being first consulted.


In the middle ages it was considered an
i'll omen if the bridal party, in going to
the church, met monk, priest, hare, dog,
Sati hAaiu vi oefpeut Wnle I'LL WOuiu 20
well If a wolf, spider or toad were encoun-
tered


1t is lucky if the initials of welded
couple spell word.


In the South of England il Is said to be
unlucky for bride to look in the glass
after she is completely dressed before she
goes to the church; so glove or some
other article is put on after the last look
has been taken at the mirror. Gray horses
at wedding are lucky. 1t is supposed
to be unlucky if a wife does not weep on
her wedding day. In Scotland II is con-
sidered an unhappy omen ifa couple are
disappointed in getting married on the day
first fixed for that purpose.


In the Isle of Man it is belived that il
insures good luck to carry salt in the
pocket when going to be married. At
Hull it is considered unlucky to 60 in one
door and go out at another when person
gets married. 6sa gis Nr.
Whoever goes to sleep first on the we'd
ding night will die first
Ii there is an odd number of guests at
wedding one is sure to die within tho
succeeding twelve months.


These old superstitions are yielding to
the power Of reason and common sense.