We recently looked into the cultural tradition of the Scottish Penny Wedding and that had us reflecting on other ways the penny makes its way into a wedding celebration.
Looking to add a little extra tradition to your wedding day? You could try inserting a penny in your shoe.
Chances are, that you’ve probably heard the phrase “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” lending itself to an age-old tradition followed by many a bride.
But did you know the original stanza ended with “and a sixpence in your shoe?”
The entire phrase took shape in the Victorian Era, which is why a sixpence – a former British monetary unit equaling six U.S. pennies – was the piece used.
The addition of the sixpence is often forgotten about when reciting the old rhyme, but the sixpence was arguably one of the most important parts. While something old symbolized a way to ward off evil of the past, and something new was hope for the future, a sixpence was used to represent prosperity for the couple. It was an additional token of good luck as the bride walked down the aisle and the only one that really focused on the financial aspect of it all.
The sixpence was decommissioned in the U.K. in 1980, and doesn’t exist in American currency, so brides in the U.S. moved to putting a penny in their shoe instead.
It’s noted that the father of the bride would present her with the sixpence, or penny, before walking down the aisle as a last token of good fortune.
With the penny symbolizing good luck, equating it with the sixpence just adds up.
Though many traditions change over time, or come and go throughout the years, this is one that can’t hurt. If anything, all day long you’ll have good luck!
