Ozark Wedding Superstitions and Sayings

One of the oldest, long standing wedding traditions is the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". Although many brides may not believe that they will experience bad luck if they fail to have these items, most brides do - just in case.

In the Ozark region, many much older traditions about weddings are still handed down so for the Ozark bride, there are many more little things that should be done - just in case.

Today, few brides follow these old ways but they remain interesting to ponder and fun to consider. And, for brides with even a single superstitious bone, they can pay attention if they like!

Some of the old sayings deal with getting married. Sweep under a young lady's feet can end her chances of marrying one day. Knock over a chair and there won't be a wedding for at least a year. Some say that riding a mule will make a woman single all her life.

Cut fingernails on Sundays and girls will not marry. (Another prohibition about cutting nails on Sunday says the devil will be with you all week so most folks trim their nails on Saturday!)

Don't be greedy and take the last biscuit from the plate or you might not ever get married!

Marriage is more imminent for girls who trip over a dog or cat, has a bee in her shoe, sees a bird after dark falls, or has a butterfly hover around her face.

Once a wedding is planned, never change the wedding date or it can cause bad luck to the happy couple. Don't marry in months that contain the letter "A" - for unknown reasons, this is also believed to be bad luck so don't marry in May, March, February, January, April, or August! One specific Ozark saying says "Marry in May, rue the day" as well.

A bride who sews is lucky because she who makes her own wedding dress secures luck for the future. Like other regions, white is a popular color for the wedding gown. Marry in white, always be right is one saying but blue is another good color for weddings, hence, marry in blue, always be true. There are sayings for every color - marry in brown, live in town, marry in black, don't look back, marry in green, never be seen but the one color to avoid is red. The saying goes marry in red, wish you were dead!

Once a bride is dressed for her wedding she should never look into a mirror or see her own reflection.

Bad luck to the bride who sees her groom before the wedding but if the bride or groom sees a toad on the road en route to the ceremony, good luck is certain!

Old shoes thrown at the wedding or reception or tied behind the vehicle also are said to bring good luck.

Rosemary brings luck to brides and in the old day, the bridal bed was strewn with rosemary. This may come from the old English belief that rosemary is for remembrance. Valerian root tea is also rumored to bring luck and happiness to bridal couples.

And, the something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue belief is also alive and well. So is the notion that whoever catches the bride's bouquet will marry next. At some weddings, the bride also throws her stocking garter (now often a ceremonial one) and whatever man catches it will soon wed.

The weather is also important for good fortune - blessed is the bride that the sun shines on but a rainy day can portend bad times ahead.

Grooms should carry the bride over the threshold of their new home to ensure a happy marriage and couples who have their first child within a year of the wedding are said to be blessed.

No one should set their future happiness on whether or not they observe these old superstitions but they can be fun and it never hurts to buy a little insurance toward a happily ever after!