Brides are often told not to let their fiancés see their wedding dress until the big day—why? Tradition dictates that it’s bad luck. In fact, superstitions from a myriad of cultures exist that may curse or bless a union. Here are a few superstitions to watch out for on your big day:
- United States: If a bride or groom breaks a mirror before the wedding, they are cursed with seven years of bad luck.
- India: A bride entering the groom’s house with her left foot is believed to bring bad luck.
- China: In Chinese culture, receiving knives or other sharp objects is a bad omen. This has also been adopted into Western culture.
- England: Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day. Ironically, it is the most popular day to get married.
Feeling overwhelmed? Doomed, even? Don’t fret—there are also superstitions that can bring good luck to happy couples:
- Morocco: Moroccan women will take milk baths before the ceremony in an attempt to purify themselves.
- Switzerland: Swedish brides place a silver coin from her father and a gold coin from her mother in her shoes as a reminder of their support.
- Ireland: Irish women incorporate lucky horseshoe-shaped symbols into their wedding jewelry or bouquet.
- China: Crying brides are actually a sign of a healthy, happy marriage! The tears can be seen as a way to get all of the sadness out before the marriage.
- England: To the English, finding a spider in your wedding dress is considered good luck. They also believe that Wednesday is the luckiest day to get married.
Whichever traditions you choose to accept or reject on your big day, may it be filled with love, luck, and emphatic proclamations of “I do.”