Wedding traditions and superstitions

When choosing Cyprus as the venue for their wedding ceremony, many newlyweds sincerely believe that a marriage entered into on the ‘Island of Love’ will be strong and long-lasting.

This hope is fuelled by the anticipation of the upcoming celebration and the wealth of traditions, legends and superstitions for which this Mediterranean island is renowned.

• To ensure they remain together forever, the future spouses must bathe at Petro to Romiou, the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
• Anyone seeking love is sure to find it if they discover a heart-shaped pebble on the pebbly shore of Petro to Romiou.
• Aphrodite’s Bath, where the goddess used to bathe and secretly meet her lover Adonis, will help a young family find wealth and a comfortable life. If you throw a coin into the water, your wish will come true.
• You can ask for your most cherished wish on the Lovers’ Bridge in Protaras. As well as having your wish granted, good fortune awaits the newlyweds.

These and other places are must-visit stops on newlyweds’ wedding itineraries.

Superstitions about the wedding dress

The newlyweds’ superstitions are entirely justified. This also applies to the outfit in which the future spouses will walk down the aisle. Fearing the evil eye and other misfortunes they wish to avoid on one of the most special days of their lives, the bride tries not to let her groom see her in her wedding dress before the ceremony.

This is perhaps one of the most common superstitions associated with the wedding dress. There are others, some of which have existed for quite some time, whilst others have emerged relatively recently.

Folk superstitions worth bearing in mind:

• it is best to get married in a new dress;
• the dress should be above the knee;
• it is preferable to choose a white dress, as well as white underwear;
• put the dress on over your head;
• do not look at yourself in the mirror whilst fully dressed in your wedding attire (it is acceptable without the veil or wearing just one glove);
• Pin a pin to the inside of the dress to ward off the evil eye;
• Your shoes should be closed-toed.

Superstitions about wedding rings

The tradition of exchanging rings originated in Ancient Greece and has endured to this day in virtually every country around the world.

Wedding rings are a symbol of marital love and fidelity, which is why particular importance is attached to their selection.

Wedding rings are purchased to last a lifetime, and to ensure a long and happy marriage, newlyweds try to follow certain rules when buying them and believe in the superstitions associated with them.

1. The rings must be made of a single metal, smooth, without engravings or gemstones.
2. They must not be lost, allowed to be tried on by others, given as gifts, or dropped.
3. The rings must be new and purchased from the same shop.
4. You must not wear a ring over a glove.
5. After the wedding, it is advisable not to take the rings off.
6. The ring should be worn on the ring finger of the right hand.

Dreams about weddings

It is not only superstitions but also dreams that can be a harbinger of misfortune or unexpected happiness.

What does it mean to dream about your own or someone else’s wedding? What does a dream in which you see yourself in a wedding dress signify? A dream dictionary can help answer these and other questions.

Interpretations of some wedding dreams:

• your own wedding — signifies receiving good news, anticipating something pleasant, or a sign urging you to pay attention to your partner;
• a wedding without a groom — indicates obstacles preventing your wishes from coming true;
• running away from a wedding — indicates anxiety about an upcoming important event;
• a wedding with your husband — indicates relationship problems;
• preparing for a wedding — a major purchase or upcoming hassles.

Dream interpretation guides offer varying insights into the meaning of our dreams, so it is best not to attach too much importance to them.

Wedding traditions for happiness and love

Traditions play an important role in organising a wedding celebration.

Old, new and traditions borrowed from other countries are observed to open the doors to a new and happy married life for the newlyweds.

• Before the wedding, the groom proposes to the bride and presents her with an engagement ring. The engagement is one of the pre-wedding traditions, after which the couple prepare for marriage.
• Another pre-wedding tradition is the stag and hen parties, at which the groom’s and bride’s friends celebrate the last day of the future newlyweds’ ‘single life’.
• Immediately before the wedding ceremony, the groom ‘rescues’ the bride. This light-hearted event is often organised by the maid of honour and the bride’s bridesmaids.
• The bride and groom travel to the registry office in separate cars.
• After the civil or church wedding, the newlyweds are showered with rose petals and coins.
• No wedding is complete without the tradition of throwing and catching the bride’s bouquet and garter.
• Together, the newlyweds release doves into the sky as a symbol of happiness, love and peace, and cut the wedding cake, which they serve to all their guests.

All these and many other traditions promise the young couple happiness and love. But the most important marital tradition of all is to live in peace and harmony, trying not to pay attention to strange dreams and superstitions.