Irish Wedding Superstitions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish believed that if the sun shone on the bride, it would bring good luck to the couple. It was also lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning or to see three magpies. After the wedding ceremony, it was important that a man and not a woman be the first to wish joy to the new bride.
Locking the Door
Locking the Door
Since Irish men were known for getting cold feet on their wedding days, once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the door to keep the groom inside to make sure he went through with the ceremony.
An Irish Feast
The traditional Irish menu -- Irish soda bread, corned beef, and cabbage -- is perhaps not something you'd typically crave, but when cooked right and served up at a big wedding fete, it's positively delicious (not to mention that it all gets washed down with plenty of whiskey and Guinness Stout). And don't forget the traditional Irish wedding cake, a fruitcake filled with almonds, raisins, cherries, and spice and laced with brandy or bourbon.
The Month of Honey
The Month of Honey
The word for honey is "meala" in Irish. "Mi na meala," the month of honey, refers to the month after the wedding when the newlyweds celebrated by drinking mead, a brew made of fermented honey. Following the wedding, a sufficient amount of mead was given to the bride and groom, along with special goblets, so they could share the unique brew for one full moon after their wedding -- and thus the term honeymoon was coined. It was believed that this delicate yet potent drink was the best way to ensure a good beginning for a new marriage, and it was also believed to endow powers of virility and fertility.
Read more: Irish Wedding Traditions - Irish Wedding Customs - Irish Weddings http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/articles/irish-wedding-traditions.aspx#ixzz2T6bexEkH
Read more: Irish Wedding Traditions - Irish Wedding Customs - Irish Weddings http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/articles/irish-wedding-traditions.aspx#ixzz2T6bEReer
Read more: Irish Wedding Traditions - Irish Wedding Customs - Irish Weddings http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/articles/irish-wedding-traditions.aspx#ixzz2T6bexEkH
Read more: Irish Wedding Traditions - Irish Wedding Customs - Irish Weddings http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-customs/articles/irish-wedding-traditions.aspx#ixzz2T6bEReer