WEDDINGS
WEDDINGS
(May 2006)
May is a month for a lot of weddings so, I thought I would entertain you with some of the wedding customs and superstitions, although I’m sure you may have heard some of these before.
1. It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers.
2. The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
3. Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:
Monday for wealth,
Tuesday for health,
Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.
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4. Advice on which month to marry is given by the following rhyme:
Marry when the year is new, he'll be loving kind and true. When February birds do mate, you wed nor dead your fate. If you wed when march winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know. Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden and for Man. Marry
in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day. Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see. Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine. If in
October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last. |
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5. This one most of us have heard before is a rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it are much older,
Something old, something
new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in your shoe
6. Most brides today marry in white which symbolizes maidenhood. Before the white dress brides wore their best dress. The color was a matter of preference. The following is a traditional rhyme offering advice on dress color:
Married in White, you
have chosen right, Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl, Married in Brown, you will live in
town,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead, Married in Yellow, ashamed of your
fellow,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen, Married in Pink, your spirit will sink,
Married in Grey, you will go far away, Married in Black, you will wish yourself
back.
Here is a wedding announcement printed in the Lexington Review Newspaper, dated April 25, 1890. It must have been the social event of the season as I know when I ran across it I was amazed to hear of a wedding so lavish for the time. When I think of 1890, I always thought of a nice quiet family ceremony in a church rectory or the parlor of one’s parents, with a small family dinner to follow. This couple must have been ahead of their time, with a wedding like this. It is more along the lines of a wedding held today. Read this wedding announcement and imagine what it would have been like to have had or attended a celebration like this!
Dated April 25, 1890
CLAGGETT - McNAUGHT
In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. The truth of the words of the discerning poet was again verified on last evening by the celebration of the marriage of Miss Gertrude McNaught, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. N. McNaught, of Lexington, at her home, to Mr. Bernard J. Claggett, also of Lexington. Miss McNaught is one of Lexington's well known and most popular young ladies having been a resident of this city since her birth, some eighteen or twenty fair summers ago. Mr. Claggett is known as one of the most successful and popular young business men of the place. The ceremony was preformed by Rev. J. H. Reece, pastor of the Christian church. The bride was arrayed in an exquisite gown of white silk crepe, with white roses as ornaments, and typified the traditional fair and lovely bride, her short curling hair giving to her face a peculiarly youthful and charming expression. The groom, in the conventional black, was a fit representative of the historical strong and mighty oak, and as the beholder gazed upon the generous supply of avoirdupois with which kind nature has blest him, and upon the slender young bride at his side, one could but reflect that the picture there presented was a fair one. After the usual congratulations following the ceremony, an elaborate supper was served which was heartily enjoyed by all present. There were about one hundred and twenty-five guests present, including persons from Bloomington, Pekin and Chicago. A large number of costly and elegant presents were received by the happy pair, Mr. and Mrs. Claggett left for Chicago this morning at 3 o'clock, from which place they will go to South Bend and Notre Dame, Ind. After a week's visit they will return to Lexington where they will be at home to their many friends.
A Brilliant Party
The most delightful and elegant company of the season was that which assembled at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Claggett Wednesday evening in honor of the newly wedded Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Claggett. The guests to the number of 150 came from Lexington, Bloomington, Pontiac and other points, in response to invitations issued by Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Claggett, parents of the groom, and the occasion is one that will long remain in the minds of those in attendance as abounding in unlimited enjoyment. The arrangement of everything for the comfort of the guests, was perfect, and the success of the evening reflects much credit upon Mrs. W. H. Claggett. The supper served upon small tables placed conveniently throughout the parlors, was prepared and served under the direction of Mrs. Phelps Cooper, the popular Bloomington cateress, and proved a very delightful feature of the evening's enjoyment. The Italian orchestra, of Peoria, was present, and during the supper hour regaled the guests with several choice selections of music.
Following the supper those of the guests who were so disposed - and this included the greater number - repaired to the opera house adjoining the residence, where dancing became the order of the remaining hours, and was continued in a most hearty and merry manner until long after midnight. The excellent music by the Italian orchestra inspired all to trip the "light fantastic" with unusual spirit and grace. The ladies, attired in rich and elegant costumes, never seemed more charming and the gentlemen never more gallant and agreeable. The hours sped by rapidly and the time for all to take their leave came all too soon.
Among the guests in attendance from abroad were Senator Patterson, Messrs. Barr, McCurdy, Eaton, Williams, Perrigo, Probasco and Harber, of Bloomington, Messrs. Woodrow and Lyons, of Pontiac, and Ira McNaught, of Iowa; Mesdames Harber, Preble and Harber, Misses Hodge, Dalton, Louden, Stone, McCurdy and Stone of Bloomington, the Misses Woodrow, of Pontiac, Miss Pearson, of Chicago, and Miss McNaught, of Tallula.
That the brilliancy and success of this occasion may symbolize and crown the lives of the two, in honor of whom the reception was given, is the wish of THE REVIEW.
