- Image by jimmyharris via Flickr
Celebrating your marriage with blessings and luck can be done by incorporating Irish wedding traditions into your marriage ceremonies. St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th March is considered to be the luckiest day to get married on, but it is not always possible to get married on the luckiest day of the year. However other traditions may be used to ensure your marriage receives the best of Irish luck.
A Claddagh ring is called after a fishing village in Galway, Ireland. The ring is traditionally passed down from generation to generation on the maternal side of the family. So it would pass from mother to daughter. The ring is used for both the betrothal and the marriage and during the betrothal it is worn on the right hand. The heart in the ring is turned inwards to show that person wearing it is not available and after the marriage takes place it is worn on the left hand with the heart turned inwards. This type of ring must be given as a gift and it is never deemed to be proper if a person buys one for him or herself.
While some traditions dictate that it is lucky to have rain on your wedding day, the Irish do not. They believe for the couple to be lucky, the sun must at least shine on the bride, I think I agree with this. Superstitious such as throwing a shoe over the head of the bride, carrying a horseshoe and “Marry in May Rue the Day”, all still matter to Irish traditionalists. Bells are believed to keep away evil spirits and if the mother-in-law breaks wedding cake over the brides head, they are said to be friends for life.
In terms of the Irish toast, it is not tradition for the Best Man to do this alone, the whole wedding party participates, and there is a traditional recitation which the newlyweds say, after which the guests respond. This recitation is simple to find online and it starts “Friends and relatives, so fond and dear..” mead is the drink of choice when this recital takes place.
Much the same as the rest of the Western World, Irish wedding dress fashions come and go. However there is one particular thing that should be included in the brides’ retinue and this is Irish Lace. It can be incorporated into the dress, garter or veil, or even be given as a gift to attendants. An Irish color theme would be green, white and orange, perhaps not for the dress, these colors might be more appropriate for the table settings.
A traditional color theme would be the white green and orange and it would not be an Irish wedding if there was no piper. As apposed to the Scots bagpipes the Irish piper can play the Uillean pipes and plays the “Irish Wedding Song” on these. Dressed in his kilts, he will make an admirable impression on the celebration.
As far as food goes, corned beef, cabbage and soda bread may not impress, but if they are well prepared these dishes can still taste delicious. Once your guests have toasted in mead and Irish whiskey, they will be grateful for any food which may be served. The cake is very luxurious and is a rich fruit cake filled with nuts (almonds) cherries, spices, raisins and candied peel.
The honeymoon or in Celtic Mi na Meala basically means the month of honey. The theory is that the newly wedded couple is given two goblets and enough mead to see them through to the next moon. It promotes virility and fertility and because it is a sweet strong drink ensures a good start for the marriage.
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