Wedding traditions : Ireland / Irish

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Irish Wedding Traditions

A traditional Irish wedding is a tricky thing to manage, because it depends on the century and the part of Ireland you want it to be a part of. Ireland has so much tradition that it’s hard to know where to start.

Origin of the word Honeymoon
The word "Honeymoon" itself comes from the Irish tradition. Mead (honey wine) is drunk at the wedding feast and for a full month (one moon, hence a honey moon) after the wedding by the couple. It was intended to promote fertility (perhaps by breaking down inhibitions!) and also protect from the Little Folk who might try to carry the Bride off (which might have been a story concocted to encourage the drinking of the mead to achieve the oher aspect).

Magic Hanky
Something which has not spread into other cultures is the "Magic Hanky". The Bride carries a handerkerchief which, with a few stitches, can be turned into a baby’s christening bonnet. Then by removing the stitches it can be changed back to a hanky that the child can carry at their own wedding.

Fairy folk
There was a lot of trouble with the fairy folk in Ireland so many traditions have to do with avoiding all the possible ways the little people could interfere with your life or worse, carry the beautiful bride away:

Wedding bells
Giving a bell at a wedding is a tradition that represents the idea that bells drive away evil spirits.

Good luck and what to avoid!
More protection aginst the evil of the world is achieved by the Bride and Groom eating three mouthfuls of oatmeal and salt at the start of the wedding feast.

When dancing the Bride must keep one foot on the ground so that the fairies can’t carry her away.

It should be a man that first wishes the Bride good luck, not a woman; hearing a cuckoo is good luck as is seeing three magpies; unlike the Greeks, breaking a glass or cup is bad luck; Bride and Groom must not wash their hands at the same time in the same basin; marrying when the moon is waxing is good for fertility; and a shoe must be thrown over the head of the Bride as she leaves the church;

Colours
Despite the colour green being associated with Ireland it is very important that the Bride does not wear anything green because that is an open invitation for the fairy folk to take her.

Blue is the colour to choose, for purity. Similarly she mustn’t sing because one of the faerie might be so entranced with her voice they’ll come after her.

Claddagh ring
A Claddagh ring has become popular since, according to legend, the 16th century when a fishing boat was captured by Algerian pirates and the crew sold as slaves. One of the crew was Richard Joyse who was to be married the same week. The ring symbolises undying loyalty.

Luck money
Once upon a time the Groom’s family bought the Bride from her family, this has changed to "luck money" where the Groom presents a coin to his Bride to ensure happiness and good luck.

Jumping the Broom
"Jumping the Broom" is a common practice in African-American culture but also exists in the Irish tradition. It dates back to a custom where the woman would ensure the fertility of crops by jumping or riding the broom.