Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe.
The Symbolism of the Penny
Wealth and Prosperity: The penny is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. By placing it in her shoe, the bride is symbolically ensuring that she and her husband will have financial fortune and abundance in their married life.
A Symbol of Unity: As an act of unity, the groom performs a reciprocal gesture to the bride's act of placing a penny in her shoe. Just as the penny in the bride's shoe symbolizes prosperity, luck, and protection, the groom might put a penny in his pocket as a way of reciprocating those wishes and showing solidarity with his bride.
Warding Off Evil: Some believe that the penny is a way to ward off evil spirits or protect the couple from negative energies. The shoe is considered a vulnerable point of entry for evil spirits, so placing the penny inside the shoe is believed to provide a protective barrier.
Ensuring Fertility: In ancient times, it was thought that by placing a small metal object like a penny in the bride's shoe, it would help to ground and channel the earth's energies, promoting fertility and ensuring the couple would have children.
The penny in the shoe is just one of many wedding day superstitions and traditions. Here are a few more interesting ones:
- Throwing Rice: Showering the newlywed couple with rice after the wedding ceremony is believed to bring fertility and abundance.
- Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold: It is said that carrying the bride over the threshold protects her from evil spirits.
- Breaking the Glass: In Jewish weddings, breaking a glass symbolizes the fragility of love and serves as a reminder to cherish and protect the marriage.
These traditions may vary across different cultures and regions, but they all share the common theme of bringing good luck and blessings to the couple on their special day.
So, the next time you witness a bride slipping a penny into her shoe, remember the rich symbolism and tradition behind this simple act. It is a beautiful way for the bride to honor her heritage and bring prosperity to her marriage.