Bridal traditions: a penny in her shoe
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Weddings are a time of tradition, custom and even superstition. A long-held European tradition calls for putting a penny in the bride's shoe before the ceremony and reception. As with other bridal practices, you may have questions as to the origin and meaning of this tradition.
History
The practice of putting a penny in the bride's shoe may have become popular because of the Victorian rhyme, "-Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in her shoe."- This ritual may also have started in relation to the Scottish penny wedding, in which guests brought food and drink for the reception. Over time, this tradition evolved into wedding guests bringing monetary gifts to the bride and groom to help with the cost of the wedding. Another possibility is that this tradition was started by the Irish, who believed that proximity to a penny (especially an Irish penny) would ensure the couple's prosperity.
The Meaning Behind The Penny
A penny in the shoe is traditionally thought to bring the bride good prosperity, fortune and protection against bad luck. Some customs have the bride's father place the coin in his daughter's left shoe to guarantee the new couple's health, happiness and wealth.
During The Wedding
Today's brides may find it difficult to find a silver sixpence, so they often slip a penny inside their shoe before the ceremony instead. Because of this practice, the rhyme has in recent times changed to “- ... and a lucky penny in your shoe."-
After The Wedding
After the wedding, the lucky penny is sometimes turned into jewelery such as a charm for a bracelet, a pendant to hang on a chain or a setting in a ring. Traditionally, in some European cultures, the bride saved the penny and later gave it to her daughter on her wedding day.
Source: www.ehow.com
Tags: penny shoe, this tradition, before ceremony, Bridal traditions, Bridal traditions penny
