Something old, something new…

“Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a sixpence in her shoe”

(Last line variations: “And a penny in her shoe” or “That’s what every bride should do”)

Almost every girl has recited this popular poem at one time in her life and certainly she remembers it to serve as a reminder of the way to achieve good luck in her marriage when she’s planning her wedding. But what does this little rhyme mean?

The rhyme itself is believed to come from the Victorian era and each line has its own significance.

• Something old – stems from the belief that by carrying or wearing something old, the bride is remembering her ties to her family and her old life.
• Something new – symbolizes her future.
• Something borrowed – is meant to represent the good luck that the person who has loaned her the item wishes for her.
• Something blue – dates back to ancient times when blue represented faithfulness and purity. The blue was often worn as trim to the bottom of the bride’s garment.
• A sixpence (or penny) – represents the wish for wealth in the bride’s future.

Ring Placement

Why the engagement and wedding bands are placed on the third finger of the left hand has two theories. In ancient Christian/Catholic cultures, it was thought that the third finger (not counting the thumb) represented the Blessed Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The more popular belief comes from ancient Egyptian culture which states that the vena amoris or the “vein of love” runs from that finger to the heart.


This is the beginning of a series of posts on wedding traditions. If you have any to share, please add a comment below!