Listen, it’s Friday if you didn’t already know, so let’s have some fun with this Friday post. And something that i’ve always found to be extremely fun, as well as interesting, are wedding superstitions and traditions. First, I feel it’s necessary to quote the great Michael Scott, “I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.” Next, let’s have a look at some of the most interesting superstitions and traditions in the world of weddings.

This first one may seem like more of a fact but the only fact is that Americans tend to have a tradition of opulence and gluttony. Did you know that seventeen tons of gold are used annually, only to make wedding rings? As of 2013, one ton of gold is worth roughly $64.3 million dollars.

Now time for a tradition that many know but none the less is interesting, engagement rings are worn on the the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once believed that that finger contained a vein leading directly back to your heart. Unfortunately, for tradition, there isn’t one vein that leads from the ring finger to the heart.

If you thought bachelor parties were started by once great frat boys looking to relive the glory days, think again. It was the ancient Spartans that started the tradition of having one last night of debauchery as a single before the newlywed life.

It’s tradition to avoid knives as a wedding gift because, well, obviously they represent a severed and broken marriage. Another website suggest that the bride and groom pay the giver of knives a penny in order to make the gift, a “purchase.”

And now, how about some traditions from across the globe:

In Italy, it’s tradition for the bride and groom to smash something made of glasses and, as tradition goes, the number of pieces that the smashed item breaks in to symbolizes the number of years the marriage will last.

And in Ireland bells are rung at weddings to ward off evil spirits and are also quite commonly given as gifts at traditional weddings.

Instead of the traditional rice shower, Czech brides are traditionally showered in peas.

And it’s the Moroccan brides that bathe in milk before their big day. This, according to tradition, purifies them. However, I call bull.

A personal favorite of mine comes from Germany, where newlyweds must work together to saw a log in half on their wedding day. To show everyone just what a great team they’re destined to be.

Now how about a tradition that’s dying off:

Traditionally, the bride and groom are the first to leave, in a shower of rice they race away in their limo that has got cans tied to the back. Now-a-days many bride and grooms are sticking around until the bitter end and even switch the tradition up by ensuring that all of their guest have fun, reliable means to get home safely. Cheers to you, forward thinking couples!

#weddingtraditions #weddingsuperstitions