Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe
The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of customs referred in it
are much older.
The "something old" represents the couples friends who will hopefully
remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which given
to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in
marriage would be passed on to the new bride.
"Something new" symbolizes the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.
The "something borrowed" is often lent by the bride's family and is an
item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good
luck.
The custom of the bride wearing "something blue" originated in ancient
Israel where the bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair to represent fidelity.
The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was to ensure wealth in the
couples married life. Today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during
the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common.
