Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/225

 203 MARRIAOe WEDDING-DAY LORE CoHtinneii from page jj, Part I By LYDIA O'SHEA Lucky and Unlucky Months— Origin of these Beliefs— Ill-omened May— The Day on which to be Married — The Superstition which Forbids a Friday Cince the choice of a suitable month and day for her wedding is often a heart-searching problem lor the bride-elect, some of the quaint old rhymes and adages given below may assist her to decide this all-important matter. Lucky Months According to old-time superstition, each month portended a different fate for the bridal pair, and sometimes different versions were given for the same month ; but the following is the most popular version of these beliefs : " Married in January's hoar and rime, Widowed you'll be before your prime. Married in February's sleepy weather. Life you'll tread in tune together. Married when March winds shrill and roar, Your home will lie on a distant shore. Married 'neath April's changeful skies, A chequered path before you lies. Married when bees o'er May blossoms flit. Strangers around your board will sit. Married in month of roses — June — Life will be one long honeymoon. Married in July, with flowers ablaze. Bitter-sweet mem'ries in after days. Married in August's heat and drowscj Lover and friend in your chosen spouse. Married in September's golden glow. Smooth and serene your life will go. Married when leaves in October thin. Toil and hardships for you begin. Married in veils of November mist, Fortune your wedding-ring has kissed. Married in days of December cheer. Love's star shines brighter from year to year." From the above it may be gathered that Fortune especially favours, or prefers, February, June, August, and September, and the two closing months of the year. "Bitter-sweet mem'ries in after days," seems a haunting line for July that recurs often to the mind, as if it hinted at some subtle tragedy instead of love's sunshine. A variation of these lines still blesses February, June, September, as well as November and December ; but prohibits May, and denies wealth for July and October. " Marry when the year is new. Always loving, kind, and true. When February birds do mate, You may wed, nor dread your fate. If you wed when March winds blow, Joy and sorrow both you'll know. Marry in April when you can, Joy for maiden and for man. Marry in the month of May, You will surely rue the day. Marry when June roses blow, Over land and sea you'll go. They who in July do wed Must labour always for t^^eir bread. Whoever wed in August be. Many a change are sure to see. Marry in September's shine, Your living will be fair and fine. If in October you do marry, Love will come, but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, Only joy will come, remember. When December's snows fall fast. Marry, and true love will last." Reasons for these Beliefs From the latter it will be seen that June- married folk are supposed to be the voyagers instead of the April couples, also that January is here accounted a lucky marriage month. Possibly the favourite times of all are April, June, and November. April because Lent is over and the earth is re-awakening, and the world seems full of the songs of birds and the sweet spring blossoms, and the lovers' hearts echo a responsive thrill to the gladness of Nature. As Tennyson wrote : " In the spring a young man's fancy Lightly turns to thoughts of love." Or, as Ouida phrased it, " When love walks amongst the flowers, and comes a step nearer what it seeks with every dawn." Another reason, too, for the popularity of April may be sought and found in the fact that its successor month — ^May — is practically shunned for weddings. So ancient is the dislike to May marriages, that Ovid refers to it as " the evil month of May " for them. In the Highlands it is sometimes called the " dismal " month, and May 3rd in particular, " La sheachanna na bleanagh," which signifies " the dismal day." Jeaffreson, who is usually regarded as a good authority upon matters matrimonial, traces this aversion of the May marriage, with its sinister reputation, to the clear rule of the