For every person today wedding is a celebration of love, as well as a cultural expression of hope, prosperity and good fortune. Around the world, various wedding traditions with symbolic meaning designed to ensure a successful marriage have passed down from generation to generation. Just as the value of Indian Head nickel depends on its rarity, history and condition, wedding customs have taken on deep significance and influence in shaping marriage ceremonies.
Today, we will talk about some of the most interesting wedding traditions from around the world that are believed to bring prosperity, happiness and strong bonds between newlyweds.
“Coin Shower”: The Tradition of Tossing Coins for Luck in Spain, Italy and Latin America
Money has long been associated with wealth and security in marriage, so coins are part of wedding customs in many cultures. Unlike the simple throwing of rice at Western weddings, some cultures take this tradition a step further by including real coins in the ceremony to symbolize prosperity, trust and good luck.
The “Arras” Tradition in Spain and Latin America
In Spanish and Latin American weddings, during the ceremony, the groom gives the bride thirteen gold or silver coins called “arras”. These coins are usually blessed by a priest and given to the bride as a sign of trust, financial responsibility, and mutual support in marriage. The number thirteen is connected with Jesus and his twelve apostles (emphasizing the religious aspect of the tradition). After the exchange, the arras are kept in a small decorative box as a memento of good fortune.
This custom shows the couple's desire to share their wealth and ensure financial stability throughout their union. Sometimes it includes modern variations allowing couples to personalize the design of their arras.
The Italian Groom’s Coin Ritual
In Italy, superstition plays a major role in wedding traditions. To attract wealth and ensure prosperity in the household, it is customary for the groom to carry a lucky coin in his pocket throughout the wedding day. This belief stems from ancient folklore, which suggests that having a coin close to the heart will bring a life free from financial struggles.
Interesting tip: Many couples today choose to commission personalized wedding coins as keepsakes or favors for their guests. If you own a wedding coin or any other interesting one, you can use tools like Coin ID Scanner to evaluate its history and market value, making it a meaningful and valuable heirloom.
“A Horseshoe for Good Fortune” - Britain and Ireland
In Britain and Ireland, it is customary for brides to carry a small horseshoe on their wedding day or sew it onto their wedding dress. Some couples insert a mini horseshoe into their wedding bouquet or pin it to the entrance of the reception hall to symbolize good luck as they enter their new home.
The direction in which the horseshoe is held is crucial. A horseshoe placed vertically (U-shaped) is believed to “catch” good luck, ensuring a life of happiness and prosperity. On the contrary, it is believed that if you turn it upside down, luck will “spill out”.
Interestingly, the tradition of giving decorative horseshoes as wedding gifts is still strong, especially in rural areas of England, Scotland and Ireland. These gifts, often made of silver or ceramic, often contain some messages of love and best wishes.
Fun aspect: The belief in horseshoes as good luck charms dates back to medieval blacksmithing customs. Because blacksmiths were considered skilled craftsmen with mystical powers, it was believed that horseshoe metalwork repelled bad energy and attracted good luck.
“Sweet Table, Sweet Life”: Wedding Food Traditions from Around the World
In different cultures, wedding celebrations are not just celebrations, but deep symbols of abundance, happiness and good fortune. Many countries have unique traditions that believe certain foods bring prosperity and success to a couple's new life together.
France and Italy: Sugared Almonds for a Balanced Life and the “Bonbonniere” Gift Tradition
At French weddings, guests receive “dragees” - candied almonds in small, elegant boxes. These sweets symbolize the bittersweet nature of marriage: the almonds represent life's problems, while the icing sugar means the sweet moments shared between the couple. Traditionally, five almonds are given, each symbolizing health, happiness, fertility, longevity and wealth.
At the same time, at Italian weddings it is customary to give bonbonnières - small souvenirs with candied almonds or nuts in chocolate, which are given to guests as a sign of appreciation. It is believed that this tradition brings good luck to both the newlyweds, as well as to all guests present at the wedding.
Poland: Bread, Salt, and Vodka Ceremony
One of the most unique food traditions comes from Poland, where newlyweds participate in a bread, salt, and vodka ritual immediately after their wedding ceremony, where bread symbolizes prosperity and the hope that the couple will never go hungry; salt represents life’s difficulties, reminding the couple to support each other through hard times; vodka (or wine) signifies celebration and joy, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with happiness.
This tradition highlights the balance of life's joys and challenges, encouraging the couple to accept both with love and devotion. By the way, in Germany, wedding guests often bring pretzels to a wedding to symbolize good luck and stability in a marriage, as the pretzel's intertwined shape symbolizes two lives coming together.
“Something Old, Something New”: The Symbolism of Wedding Attire
One of the most famous wedding customs comes from England: the saying “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” This phrase represents different elements that should be included in the bride’s attire to ensure a successful and fortunate marriage.
Wedding Element | Meaning |
Something old | Represents continuity and family heritage. Often, it's heirloom jewelry or lace from the mother’s wedding gown. |
Something new | Symbolizes optimism and hope for the future. Typically, it's a new wedding dress or shoes. |
Something borrowed | An item borrowed from a happily married friend or relative is believed to bring marital happiness. |
Something blue | Blue symbolizes fidelity, purity, and protection from evil spirits. It can be a blue ribbon or embroidery on the dress. |
Interesting fact: This tradition dates back to Victorian England, where brides also carried a silver sixpence in their shoe for financial prosperity.
Wedding Toasts: Raising a Glass to Happiness and Wealth in Russia and Germany
It is said that no wedding is complete without a fight and a toast to the newlyweds, and while the former can easily be omitted, the latter simple act is filled with symbolic meaning. In different cultures, it is believed that the way guests toast the newlyweds sets the tone for their marriage.
For example, in Russian weddings, the newlyweds drink champagne or vodka from a common glass and then throw the empty glass on the ground. It is believed that the number of shards symbolizes the number of happy years they will spend together. The tradition of clinking glasses before drinking comes from ancient times, when people believed that this sound drove away evil spirits from the party.
But in Germany, some couples participate in a Baumstamm Sägen, or log cutting, ceremony immediately after their wedding. Due to using a two-man saw, the couple must work together to cut a thick log and show their ability and desire to overcome all challenges together.
The Bridge between Traditions
Wedding traditions are not simply beautiful rituals, but real amulets filled with deep meaning. Each coin, horseshoe or champagne glass carries centuries-old wisdom and wishes for happiness. That is why, it is not important how different the rituals are around the world, their goal is the same - to give newlyweds a solid foundation for a happy life together.