Marriages (February 9)

Marriage Superstitions

The Home Sentinel, Afton, NY, April 8, 1876

Since marriage became an institution, there have been certain signs and superstitions that have clung to its celebration through all ages and in all centuries. Even today, in most civilized nations, we have not entirely rid our minds of these superstitions, and I warrant there is never a bride but indulges herself in looking for some happy omen. Few people are dauntless enough to be married on Friday, and we have the most unlimited confidence in that old shoe thrown after the newly wedded pair.  Nearly every bride of today wears about her, when she is married, some trifling thing borrowed from a lady friend, and all know that "Blest is the bride on whom the sun doth shine," and are equally certain that

"To change the name and not the letter

Is a change for the worse and not for the better"

 

So on, quite indefinitely, it is wonderful how these ancient signs are handed down from generation to generation, and how impotent reason is to do away with their hold upon the human mind.  Say what you will, we are naturally given to superstitious fears, and there are the fewest people who are not more or less affected by them.  But let us recall a few of the olden beliefs concerning marriage superstitions.

 

In the earliest weddings we read of among the Jews, we find that the fourth day of the week was considered the unlucky day for virgins to wed and the fifth for widows.  The Romans also believed that certain days were unfavorable for the performance of marriage rites, and these were the Calends, Nones and the Ides of every month, the whole months of February and May, and many of their festivals.  June was considered the most propitious month of the year for matrimony, especially if the day chosen were that of the full moon or the conjunction of the sun and moon. The month of May was especially to be avoided, as it was under the influence of spirits adverse to happy households, and for centuries this superstition seemed to prevail in Italy against May marriages, and even to this day prevails in some parts of England and our own country.  In China marriages are positively prohibited at certain times and seasons, on account of their being unlucky.

 

There was at one time a superstition current in England against marrying on Innocents' Day, the 28th of December, a day of ill omen, because it was the one which commemorated Herod's massacre of the children.  And it is still thought unlucky to marry in Lent.  "Marry in Lent and you'll live to repent."  An old line also says "May never was ye month of love;" and another, "Who marries between ye sickle and ye scythe will never thrive."  The old rhyme that we have all heard tells us to marry on--

Monday for wealth,

Tuesday for health,

Wednesday the best day of all;

Thursday for crosses

Friday for losses

and Saturday for no luck at all.

 

At one time it was thought than one who married on Tuesdays and Thursdays would be happy  Among the Romans no marriage was celebrated without an augury being first consulted.

 

In the middle Ages it was considered an ill omen if the bridal party in going to the church met a monk, priest, hare, dog, cat, lizard or serpent; while all would go well if a wolf, spider or toad were encountered.

 

It is lucky if the initials of a wedded couple spell a word.

 

In the south of England it is said to be unlucky for a bride to look in the glass after she is completely dressed before she goes to the church; so a glove, or some other article, is put on after the last look has been taken at the mirror.  Gray horses at a wedding are lucky.  It is supposed to be unlucky if a wife does not weep on her wedding day.  In Scotland it is considered an unhappy omen if a couple are disappointed in getting married on the day first fixed for that purpose.

 

In the Isle of Man it is believed that it insures good luck to carry salt in the pocket when going to be married.  At Hull it is considered unlucky to go in at one door and go out at another when a person gets married.

 

Whoever goes to sleep first on the wedding night will die first.

 

If there is an odd number of guests at a wedding one is sure to die within the succeeding twelve months.

 

Tucker - Newton

The Weekly Gleaner, May 8, 1890

At South Otselic [Chenango Co., NY], April 24, 1890, by Rev. J.A. Pickard, Mr. Arthur L. Tucker of Richmond, Va., and Miss Della Newton, daughter of J.P. Newton.

 

The Sun, New York City, May 9, 1890

Norwich [Chenango Co., NY]:  The porch of an old-fashioned farm house in the neighboring town of Otselic [Chenango Co., NY]  was recently the scene of the fulfillment of one of the longest marriage engagements on record.  Nineteen years ago Miss Della Newton, then 17 years of age, lived with her parents in the house.  In a neighboring farm house lived Arthur R. Tucker , who had just attained his majority.  The pair had been playmates and were lovers.  The young man was poor, and he decided to go to Virginia and seek his fortune, and when he had acquired it, return and claim the girl as his wife. The lovers parted at the porch of the old farm house, he giving and she accepting a plain gold ring as a mutual pledge of enduring affection and constancy.  The young man settled in Richmond, and buckled bravely to work.  But fate was cruel, and for many long years sickness and  other misfortunes interposed a bar to the nuptials.  At last his luck changed, and he struck a high tide of prosperity.  Then he hastened back to Chenango county to claim the betrothed who for nineteen years had faithfully awaited his coming. They were united in wedlock by the Rev. J.A. Packard in the porch of the old farm house where they had parted, the well worn betrothal ring serving as a marriage ring.

 

Marriage Notices

Chenango Telegraph, January 1, 1862

 

JOHNSON - HOLCOMB:  In Coventryville [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th day ult. by Rev.  N.R. Fverets, Mr. Edmond I. Johnson, of Guilford [Chenango Co., NY] to Miss Rosa Holcomb, of Coventry.

 

CARPENTER - KING:  In Sherburne [Chenango Co., NY], on the 24th ult., by Rev. M.B. Cleveland, Mr. Laerious Carpenter of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY], to Miss Maryette King, of Sherburne.

 

SAGE - THORNTON:  In South New Berlin [Chenango Co., NY], on the 17th ult. by the Rev. N. Ripley, Mr. W.H. Sage, to Miss Sarah F. Thornton, both of that place.

 

FAULKNER - SANDERS:  In Earlville [Madison Co.., NY], on the 25th ult., by Rev. T.P. Halsted, Mr. Delos Faulkner, of Fenner [Madison Co., NY], to Miss Ellen Sanders, of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY].

 



The Home Sentinel, Afton, NY, June 3, 1876

 

TERRY - SAUNDERS:  By L.S. Russell, Esq. at his residence in Sanford, May 22d, Orrin W. Terry to Hattie K. Saunders, both of Colesville [Broome Co., NY]

 

The Weekly Gleaner, May 8, 1890

 

STILLMAN - BAYS:  At Virgil, N.Y., May 6, 1890 by Rev. O.J. Purrington, Mr. Frank L. Stillman and Miss Lena E. Bays, both of Virgil [Cortland Co., NY].