h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Popular Wedding Traditions and Superstitions. - A3152576
Author: Emmily (ACE/Guru) Visit Santa's Grotto ~ A3228626 for jokes, poems, fun and games ~~ Keepers A441596 - U190758

I don't think it's possible to include every tradition and superstition. I think I've included the most popular, or those that amused me Although, I'm bound to have over-looked some.

Good one!

How about a mention that 29th February is traditionally the day when women are allowed to do the proposing? And isn't there some tradition of three gifts to the newlyweds in their new house - someone else may remember better than me - a lump of coal so they'll never grow cold, a bottle of wine so there'll always be laughter and some salt for some reason I can't remember?

'Thursday ~ brides will suffer crosses
Friday ~ brides will suffer crosses'

Do they 'suffer crosses' on both days or is this a typo? Maybe this bit would benefit from a quick footnote to explain to ignorant folk like me what suffering crosses means....

Anyway, very well written and informative, I like mucho!

This is fascinating, well done, and my father will be particularly interested in what you've said about shoes (not quite sure why I'm sharing that).

There are a few typos and misplaced apostrophes and the like. I'll come back tomorrow (it's too late tonight) and nitpick them if somebody else doesn't do it first

Mol

Looks good Emmily - glad to see you diving back in to your next guide entry

If you put   inbetween the 'cook' and 'clean' link it will seperate the links.

ie:

where she would cook, clean and bear...

Thanks Skankyrich

I've added 29th Feb. I'd forgotten about that one.

The three gifts for new home sounds interesting. I'll look into it soon.

crosses and crosses was a typo - sorted.


Thanks Mol

I found the shoe one amusing

I've run the Entry through Word, found some typos, there may be some left.

Thank Mort

I promise I won't away and if I get a lot of 'negative points' on this one.

Useful info about seperating the links.

Emmily

>"And isn't there some tradition of three gifts to the newlyweds in >their new house - someone else may remember better than me - a lump >of coal so they'll never grow cold, a bottle of wine so there'll >always be laughter and some salt for some reason I can't remember?"

I've been unable to find any reference about the above, which is a shame, as I think it would be a nice addition to the Entry. IMO it could possibly be of Scottish origin (probably completely wrong there ) If anyone knows where I find can info. about this, it would be appreciated.

Is it ok if I ask at Askh2g2 the collective knowledge if anyone knows about this particular tradition?

Emmily

I think you're right about it being Scottish, but I'm probably wrong too as usual . I remember being told about it when I was younger, maybe by my Nan when my aunt got her first house, but was reminded of it a few months ago as it's in a scene in 'Its a Wonderful Life' - but only in the Director's cut.

Being no help at all as usual....

it does ring a bell with me too, but i am thinking it was bread - so they will never go hungry...

hang on I will phone my mum

Bread, of course, I'm *sure* that must be right - what would you do with salt? Rub it on your bacon? Here, newlyweds, have some salt, so your chips will never be too vinegary...

My parents have never heard of it - I think I must have picked it up since I moved to Scotland.

Although i am sure it is common - you could ask on the Scottish researchers group at A599376

Just spoke to an English friend - who says she thinks it is coal, bread and salt (not heard of the wine one) for newly weds in their first home.

The salt is for wealth as it was used for bartar in 'long ago time' So it was salt so you have wealth. She will ask her mum tomorrow who she thinks will almost certainly know it!!

I'm sure there was something for laughter, you know... This is a really great thread, enjoying this!

everyone

I'll go ask on Scottish Researchers page, still be interested in what your friend knows about it Mort

Emmily

Okay....this is going to seem like a LOT of corrections. Please DON'T PANIC! I'm warning you before I start. All of these corrections are very minor and just mistakes made in the rush of typing.

"The engagement ring introduced by the Romans after they converted to Christianity."
"The engagement ring was introduced by the Romans, following their conversion to Christianity"

"...due to the Greeks believing that this particular finger was connected to the heart."
"...due to the Greek belief that this particular finger..."

"What's in a day"
"What's in a day?"


"May is considered as unlucky due to it being the month the..."
"May is considered unlucky due to its being the month..."

"...confuse the evil spirits as the real identity of the groom."
"...confuse the evil spirits as to the real identity of the groom"

"Good wealth was the believe of 'a silver-sixpence in your shoe'
"Good wealth was the symbolism of 'a silver..."


"...ceremony may be been seen as confirmation of the..."
"...ceremony may have been seen as confirmation.."


"The Romans made small individual cakes from wheat flour, water and salt, these were eaten while the service was in progress"
"The Romans made small individual cakes from wheat flour, water, and salt, to be eaten during the service"

"Bridesmaids, keep their slice, and placed it under their pillow, in the belief that they will dream of their future husband"
"Bridesmaids, kept their slice, and placed it under
their pillow, in the belief that they would dream of their future husband"

"A well known tradition is for the bride to throw her bouquet over her shoulder, into a group of unmarried female guests, as she left the reception, the belief being that whomever caught the bouquet, would be the next to marry"
"A well known tradition is for the bride to throw her bouquet over her shoulder into a group of unmarried female guests, as she leaves the reception; the belief being that whoever catches the bouquet will be the next to marry" (or all in past tense)

"...and veil, not do so will bring her bad luck."
"...and veil. Not doing so will bring her bad luck."

"...to bring good furtune in their future."
furtune=fortune.



Otherwise it's really good! Sorry there were so many corrections. I'm sure to snoop out some more irrelevant ones at some stage. You don't have to listen to any of them.

Kat

Thanks Kat

I've only had a quick 'skim' through your points, some good ones you've made. I'll read them again, when I'm a bit more awake, bit late at night at the moment.

Emmily

I've made most of the changes you suggested Kat, there were one or two I didn't agree with.


I've added more links, still more to add.

A question for Sub-Editors - When inserting a link, should any punctuation be inside or outside the link?

Emmily

What sort of punctuation?

comas, full stops etc.

Emmily

They go outside the link...unless its a link say...

Blah,blah,blah,thingy


If that's what you mean...sorry maybe I'm being daft and not understanding.

Ok I noticed some of mine were inside link, and some where outside. I'll change inside ones to outside later.

Emmily