Rhymes and Poems
Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday for no luck at all.
Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true,
When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread 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 & for Man.
Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bread.
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.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Wed on Monday, always poor.
Wed on Tuesday, wed once more,
Wed on Wednesday, a happy match,
Wed on Thursday, a plenty catch,
Wed on Friday, poorly matched,
Wed on Saturday, better waited,
Wed on Sunday, cupid wooing.
For a lucky bride, wear:
Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a lucky sixpence
In her shoe.
Recite the following rhyme while counting your buttons or skipping rope. The last jump, or button, shall land on the occupation of your future husband.
Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
Doctor, merchant, lawyer, chief.
Married in White, you have chosen right.
Married in Grey, you will go far away.
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back.
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead.
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen.
Married in Blue, you will always be true.
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl.
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow.
Married in Brown, you will live in the town.
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.
Married on Monday, married for health
Married on Sunday, hitched for wealth.
Marry in Lent
You'll live to repent.
Months and Days
The three lucky months for a wedding are June, October and December.
Marry in June and you husband will treat you well.
The man who marries in June will soon lose his wife.
It is unlucky to marry on the 16th or 17th of June.
The 3rd and 4th of June are the best days for a wedding.
Get married in May and you will always be sorry.
If one must marry in May, let it be either on the 24th or 25th; as all other days are unlucky.
A lucky time for a wedding is during the forty days following Easter.
The most fortunate day in the week for a wedding is Wednesday.
Marry on Wednesday and you will be happy.
Bad luck will be yours, if you marry on Friday.
If you are married on Friday, you will be very unhappy.
Never marry on Friday; it is "hangman's day."
Saturday has become the favorite day for a wedding.
Marrying on your birthday will bring you bad luck.
Miscelaneous
Cut a bioled egg in equal parts, remove the yolk from one half and put salt in its place. Then put the egg back together and and the whole egg just before going to sleep, whoever brings your water in your dreams will be the one you will marry.
"Dumb Supper"
You need a group of two or more people for this: Prepare food in unison, eat equal parts of the food at the same time, then go into a dark corner and stand.
No words are to be spoken. You will see your future husband or wife's face in the dark wall, if you don't you will never marry.
Sleep with mistletoe under your pillow and you will dream of your husband or wife.
Blindfold a girl and have her reach for three bowls placed in the middle of a table. One full of water, one of milk, and one empty. If she reaches into the one with water she will never marry. If she reaches into the one with milk she will marry. And if she reaches into the empty bowl she will die soon.
You have as many sweet-hearts as you do white spots on your fingernails.
Place a piece of wedding cake under your pillow and you will dream of the one you will marry.
Virgina: Roll up the bride's stockings and throw them at her while she lies on the bed with her new husband. The one who hits her on the head will marry next.
If a girl catches the bouquet and unties one of the "lover's knots' with which the bouquet is decorated she will get the wish she makes at the time.
To be lucky, marry during the full moon.
It is a good omen to see a rainbow, have the sun shine, meet a black cat, or meet a chimney sweep on your wedding day.
Seeing a pig, hare, or lizard running across the road or seeing an open grave on your wedding day are bad omens.
Meeting a nun or a monk on your wedding day foretells barrenness.
If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
It is good luck to get married when the second hand of the clock is going upward.
If you are married as the hands of the clock go down, your life will be a failure.
The new bride must enter her home by the main door, and must not trip or fall - hence the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold.
The spouse who goes to sleep first on the wedding day will be the first to die.
If a single woman sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.
Links and Resources
Cat Superstitions
Collected Superstitions
