The hidden defensive magic behind a bride's wedding attire
In short: We recognize the rhyme 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue' as a sweet wedding tradition. However, these items were originally intended as much more than mere decoration; they were a sophisticated set of charms designed to ward off the Evil Eye and ensure fertility.
The tradition serves as a collection of symbolic protections. While the 'new' item represents optimism for the future, the 'old' and 'blue' elements function as defensive devices against the 'Evil Eye,' a malevolent force believed to potentially render a bride barren. To further secure the future, 'something borrowed'—ideally an undergarment from a woman blessed with children—was used to physically communicate fertility to the bride. The addition of a sixpence in the left shoe was a later Victorian layer, intended to symbolize prosperity or act as a ward against envious suitors.
The rhyme's history is a patchwork of regional variations. An 1898 folklore compilation noted a Leicestershire version that omitted 'something old,' despite other regional warnings against wearing blue. While the 'Lancashire version' became the standard, the earliest written traces of the first two lines appear in an 1871 short story in St James' Magazine. By 1905, the full rhyme had migrated to the United States, appearing in Emily Post's novel *Purple and Fine Linen*.
Modern royal weddings continue to observe these customs through high-profile heirlooms. In 1981, Lady Diana Spencer incorporated Carrickmacross lace belonging to Queen Mary of Teck as her 'something old.' Decades later, Princess Beatrice utilized a 1962 Norman Hartnell dress once worn by Queen Elizabeth II as her 'something old.' These practices demonstrate how ancient superstitions regarding protection and lineage persist in contemporary ceremony.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Something old
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