Wedding Customs Around the World - Ireland

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The Irish culture is known for its many superstitions, and Ireland has a rich history of wedding traditions that are steeped with symbolism and meaning. Some of these traditions provide good luck to the new couple, while others block bad omens.

The luckiest day to marry on is St Patrick’s Day. Other lucky dates include the month of April, November and December 31st, the last day of the year. Wednesday is a good day for marriage, while Saturday is unlucky.

The Claddagh Ring is popular as a wedding ring. Its design originated in the 1600s and features hands holding a heart with a crown on top. The heart symbolizes love, the crown loyalty and the hands friendship. If worn on the right hand with the heart facing out, a woman is announcing she is single and fancy free, but if the heart is facing in it means she is “spoken for” or engaged. When the Claddagh is worn on the left hand with the heart facing in, it means the wearer is married.

If the bride and groom take three mouthfuls of salt and oatmeal at the beginning if the reception it will protect against the evil eye, and the bride’s feet should not leave the floor when dancing or the fairies might spirit her away. The bride should not wear green and it is bad luck for bride and groom to sing at their own wedding.

The traditional Irish wedding cake is rich fruitcake, iced in white, and a slice of the cake is saved to be eaten on the first anniversary. The top tier of the wedding cake should be an Irish whiskey cake, which is saved for the christening of the first baby.

Other Irish customs and superstitions include: -

The chime of bells given as a wedding present keeps evil spirits away, restore harmony and reminds the couple of their wedding vows
The bride should carry a horseshoe, end pointed upwards, for good luck
Hair should be worn braided as a symbol of female power and good luck
A traditional Irish dress should be blue, not white
Lavender should be included in wedding flowers to ensure a long-lasting union
A brides handkerchief should be kept and made into a christening bonnet
A man and not a woman should be the first to wish joy to the new bride.
It is lucky to hear a cuckoo on the wedding morning, or to see three magpies.
It's good luck if a happily married woman puts the veil on you, but bad luck to put it on yourself
It's lucky to be awakened by birds singing on your wedding morning.
If you look at the sun when you leave for your wedding, your children will be beautiful.