The Meaning of “Something Old, Something New…”

Engaged? Congratulations! We’re sure you’re enjoying every bit of planning your wedding day with your fiancé and loved ones.

Of course, as a bride, there are many things you have to think about; your dress, your hair, your make-up, your bridesmaids, your maid of honour, your mother, your future mother in law, where will everyone stay… What will everyone wear? What have you forgotten?

There are some things however, that the bride needn’t worry about, unless you are picky about what you choose… Your female family members and friends can help you with this one. And that’s your something old, new, borrowed and blue!

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

It’s a rhyme every bride will become familiar with during the course of wedding planning, but a lot of us may not actually know the meaning behind the rhyme and its importance in your wedding day.

While no bride should ever feel the need to be superstitious on her big day, the “something old, something new” rhyme aims to add a little extra good karma to the special day and for her coming marriage.

The poem is an Old English rhyme, which was often recited throughout the Victorian period. As per the poem, brides must collect the five tokens herself or from friends and family. They act as pieces of good luck, and are often heirlooms from family members passed down in a rite of passage.

No bride should stress too much about them; you are sure of who you are marrying. But if you’re keen on keeping true to tradition, here’s the meaning of each one… Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolises borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love and fidelity; and a sixpence in your shoe is a wish for good fortune and prosperity.

If you didn’t know, sixpences are silver coins used in the 17th – 20th century in England and Maryland in the United States of America.