Some wedding superstitions: Part 2
In order not to fall apart in future, the wife should break a plate when entering the house of her husband. Only then, stepping over the debris, should she enter the house with her husband. This tradition probably dates back to the times when a Russian bride had to break a pot. If it broke, the bride was chaste, if not - she did not keep her chastity. There is another explanation: to break the dishes is to say goodbye to your single life.
No one should cross the road before the couple.
If the bells ring during the wedding, it is a good sign. The ringing of the bells makes the evil spirits go away, it is the voice of God. Science has proved that the ringing of bells clears the air. However, if the bells ring then the couple exits the church, it is a bad sign.
If the Russian bride loses a pin, she loses her luck.
Before the newly-weds enter the house, an unlocked door-lock should be put on the threshold. As soon as they enter, it is locked with a key and thrown away.
On a Russian wedding, the people always shout "Gor'ko!", which means "Bitter!" This custom dates way back. The Russian bride would come to every guest with a tray, the guest would put money on it, take a glass of vodka, drink it and say "Bitter!", confirming that it was vodka and not water that he drank. After that he would kiss the bride. Those who did not give money just drank the glass, saying "Bitter!", and would watch the others kiss the bride. Gradually this custom changed into a playful demand for the newly-weds to kiss more and more.
The newly-weds should be taken around the table three times. The table is a symbol of the house, which is why taking them three times around the table is similar to the priest taking the couple tree times around the lectern.
The father and mother of he groom meet the newlyweds at home with an offering of bread and salt. The one who chews a bigger piece off the bread without using the hands would be the head of the house.
The wedding cars are decorated with red ribbons. A red ribbon is the symbol of the bride's virginity, a blue one has an opposite meaning. Nowadays, when they decorate cars with both red and blue ribbons, there is no meaning to it.
An unexpected rain on the wedding day means wealth in the young family. The superstition came from the countryside where rain is the symbol of harvest. If there is harvest, there is wealth in the house.
A Russian bride should not step alone over the threshold of the house where they are going to live with her husband; they either step together or he carries her over the threshold.
During the wedding, the bride's shoes are stolen and a ransom is demanded for them. It is considered lucky to hold the bride's shoe, because if the girl got married, she is lucky.
One should throw old, worn shoes after the bride and the groom so that all the old and worn memories for both of them would be bygone and never remembered like old shoes.
After the couple exits the church, they should keep silent as long as possible. The one who keeps silence for longer would become head of the family.
When the Russian bride exits the church, someone breaks an egg. This is associated with wishing the bride easy childbirth and many children.
One should not throw away the wedding wreath. During the wedding, the wreath served as a charm, because special plants would be put into it, and a charm should not be thrown away.
After the Russian bride left her house, the floors (not the threshold) would be washed. This was done for the bride not to come back to her parents.
During the church ceremony, if the crown falls of the bride's or the groom's head, this person would be the widow(er).
After the ceremony, the newly-weds should look in the same mirror - it ensures good luck.
A set of knives and forks given to couple could bring an unhappy married life.
Bad luck awaits the bride if she sees herself in the mirror in full wedding dress before the wedding. It could be avoided if she tries on the dress without one glove for example.
The coins put in the couple's glasses during the wedding should be kept at home under the tablecloth - the family would be always wealthy.
If husband and wife eat with the same spoon, they would not be satisfied with each other afterwards.
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