Wedding traditions within the Western European countries of England, Iceland, Ireland and Scotland are just as steeped in tradition and pageantry as anywhere else on Earth. However, like everything else, some traditions may alter in time and become a more modern celebration.
England
In England, on the day of the wedding, it is customary for young girls to scatter flowers in front of the bride and her party as they walk together towards the chapel. Other wedding traditions in an English wedding may also include:
-It is considered good luck for the bride if she sews to the hem of her dress a good luck charm. A traditional charm would be the silver horseshoe of royal British brides.
-Wedding vows may be done at the doorway of the church so that all on lookers can watch the nuptials take place.
-The reception cake includes the fruitcake. At the top of the cake is a layer known as the “christening cake” which is saved and served at their first child’s baptism. Along with the fruitcake, the groom’s cake is also served.
Iceland
Although Iceland weddings have taken on more of a western culture, it still is steep in tradition, such as:
-It is not unusual for a long engagement in Iceland to take place, as many engagements can last as long as three years or longer.
-Weddings are generally done in one day, but there was a time where the wedding was a week long process. It would start the day before the church ceremony with many speeches, songs and drinking.
-The groom’s arrival includes him being surrounded by local nobles, relatives and his best man, as church bells would then be rung announcing the groom’s arrival.
-At the reception, the head table is propped much higher than the rest of the tables in a royalesque manner, as they look down at the rows of guests. The table generally includes the new couple, along with the priest, fathers of the married couple, best man and any toastmasters that will be toasting the new couple.
-The type and size of the feast will depend on the wealth of the bride and groom. The more they have, the bigger the feast will be.
-Traditionally, prior to the conclusion of the reception, the bride would be taken to her bridal bed, where the bridesmaids would then undress her completely, leaving only her headdress. The groom would then bring her a present. Today it is often that both would exchange a gift. After the groom removes her headdress, he would then lie with her in the bed and the priest would perform one final prayer, and to seal their marriage they would drink out of the bridal cups.
Ireland
In Ireland, it is customary for the bride to wear a Claddagh ring, which has the motto of “Let love and friendship reign.” Worn on the left hand, symbolizes the woman is married. However, worn on the right hand, you would have to see which direction the heart is facing. If it’s facing toward her, then she is engaged, but if it is facing away from her, she is available and looking.
Other Irish wedding and reception traditions include:
-An old wedding day tradition would be for the couple to walk together to the church while on lookers, not only threw rice at them for blessings, but also such items as brushes, pans and pots.
-The white wedding dress was introduced in 1499, where prior to that, the bride’s dress was blue.
-Having the bride wear her hair in a braid on her wedding day symbolizes feminine luck and power.
-The reception may include such things as the “Jaunting Chair” in which the groom is hoisted into the air showing he is now married.
Scotland
In Scotland, many of the past traditions have been altered, but often can be mixed into modern day weddings. Some Scottish traditions include:
-The groom and his party wear the Scottish kilt, sans the undergarments
-Today’s engaged couple still make formal announcements of their intent to marry, which is their way of honoring the past where the tradition of “banns” was more formal and prolonged.
-Often prior to the day of the wedding, the groom’s friends go out drinking until the groom is so drunk that his friends may leave him in front of his house naked and sometimes tied-up.
-On the wedding day, the town may form a path for the couple to walk thru leading them to the church behind bagpipers.
About the Author:
Behind The Lens Maui specializes in professional quality photography, with an emphasis in Maui weddings. If you are looking for a Wedding Photographer in Maui, visit us online or call us at 808-205-2366 808-205-2366. Behind The Lens Maui – 75 Waiaka Apt #102, Wailuku, Hi 96793 http://www.behindthelensmaui.com
We all know that Halloween is on October 31st each year, but what exactly are the origins of this holiday? Halloween started out by the name of Samhain in the times that the Pagans of Ancient Gaelic culture celebrated as a festival. Most Pagans still celebrate it to this day. It was and is considered a season of harvest by them then and now. The ancient people would gather food they needed for the long winter months ahead at this time. They would also gather up all of the fall harvest during this time as well.
It was also believed that a thin veil between our living world and the world of the dead was at its thinnest on this night. This meant that those who had crossed over could now come back to communicate and visit on this of all eerie nights. Many bonfires were set in celebration of these festivals. Costumes as well as masks were worn to mimic those of the dwelling spirits who may have ill intent on this devil’s night. The mask and costumes would confuse them and keep them from doing mischief to those wearing these. It was also said to appease all of the spirits as well.
The act of going from house to house for goodies on this haunting night can date back well into the Middle Ages. It is said to have gotten its start from the people who would go home to home wassailing during the Yuletide. In the Americas the art of trick-or treating started in the west end of the United States and then moved itself towards the east. The famous Jack-o-Lanterns of Halloween night is meant to ward off evil spirits with their bright candles and scary faces when lit and left burning on this All Hallows Eve. There are many other Irish and Scottish folktales regarding the Jack-o-Lanterns history and more. As with any fable there are many variations on it.
A few superstitions around Halloween include the famous pumpkin with scary faces outside your home with a lit candle within to keep evil demons and spirits at bay till the morning light. Then there is the one that tells you to only use brand new candles on this night, never old or previously used ones. The old ones can bring ill luck your way instead of great luck with the new ones. It is even said that if you notice one of your candles blow out without breeze or wind near them you have been visited by a ghost.
About the Author:
Hoby prefers to write on a myriad of entertaining subjects like where to purchase Halloween costumes and how to fabricate your own Yoda lightsaber
Organize One Of The Low-priced Inn Together With Transportation To Have An Excellent Vacations In Bo
Boston Vacations – Boston Children’s Museum
One place that you must take your children for learning and entertainment during a visit to Boston is the Bostons Children Museum. With 9 decades of history in interactive and educational exhibits for children, the museum is one of its kind and a premier institution for museums worldwide. Focus areas include interesting and relevant topics such as science, culture, environmental awareness, health & fitness, and the arts. One example of such an exhibition is Curious George: Lets Get Curious!, which allows children to indulge in Curious Georges fictional world and learn about math, science and engineering through informational activities and interactive games. Green Trail is another relevant example of an exhibit it helps kids understand the efforts made by the museum to be as environment friendly as possible. The list of such interesting activities and exhibitions is endless and you must take your kids to enhance their learning experience and have a fun time at the same place.
Boston Vacations St. Patricks Day Celebrations
We all have a bit of that adorable Irish love inside of us and Boston is the best place to celebrate St. Patricks Day!We have got to tell you this; you are going to enjoy some amazing floats, music, crazy Irish jeering and cheering at the Citys yearly parade in Boston in the most Irish neighborhood in USA. It all begins at the heart of the Broadway T Station and then ends gracefully at the Andrew Square in the south of the warm Boston. You have to wear a nice T shirt colored vibrant green along with the crowd and march down West Broadway to East Broadway to East 4th, to 5th Street, and around Thomas Park off to Telegraph Street and Dorchester Street by ending at Andrew Square. When the march is over, relax and take a nice stroll down Beacon Hill and Back Bay and visit the lovely Irish Heritage Trail. Plus, bring your camera and make sure you let the town know you just luv Ireland!
Best Time to Visit Boston
Boston is a city for all seasons depending on your taste and desired activities during the vacation. This makes it a city thats visited all around the year and therefore considerable price differences and ease of booking do not come at any specific time each year. It should be noted, however, that prices do rise up and bookings hard to get in early autumn and early summer as the universities in the area attract students families from all around the country for their graduation ceremonies and orientation weeks. Despite the difficulty in finding good deals and easy bookings, summer is a time when the city has a lot of outdoor activities to choose from. On the other hand, winter is a much quieter time with indoor activities superseding the outdoor fun of the summer. Theater, exhibitions, dining and holiday celebrations are the highlights of Boston Winters and if these are things that interest you then winters are the best time to visit.
Fenway Park, Home of the Red Sox
Fenway Park is, like many readers might know already, a lovely and gigantic baseball park in Boston, Massachusetts, USA which is also home to the magnanimously famous team of the Red Sox. Situated in 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, this happens to the famous home for the Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912. Fenway Park is known for its quirky features that include Triangle, Peskys Pole and the famous Green Monster in the left field and also because it is the oldest yet most useful Major League Baseball Stadium. Baseball lovers will be pleased to know every game in Fenway Park for the Red Sox home game has been sold out since 15th May, 2003 along with its 456th game, turning into a Major League record. Green Monster, The Lone Red Seat, The Triangle, Foul Poles, Duffys Cliff and its EMC Club are some of the amazing features at the park. You know how much lady luck loves you if youre sitting in Fenway Park, enjoying a game.
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About the Author:
Have fun in the outdoors during your Boston vacations. Enjoy the outdoors and the beautiful vistas in your Boston hotels.
History of Ireland: St. Patrick’s Day Poster, Four-Leaf Clover
Lucky Charm
This is a fun parody of the original Journey Song .. It’s call Lucky Charm… its sort goofy..
Good Luck Charm
Good Luck Charm by Elvis
4 leaf clover is the world best known good luck charms. four leaf clover is consider to be a lucky charms in many cultures.
4 leaf clover
Some people have the right eyes and skills to pick out four leaf clover…
4 leaf clover is the world best known good luck charms. four leaf clover is consider to be a lucky charms in many cultures.
What is luck?
- Image via Wikipedia
Some things in life can never be influenced. The place one was born in, for example, is fixed in history. You may feel it was lucky to be born into a wealthy, stable, loving family environment, or unlucky to have been born as a gnat. Or not. But no sane person would expect a lucky charm to change things that have happened in the past.
Accidents happen, good or bad, and certain people are accidentally caught up in those circumstances. That is chance. Or luck, if you prefer that word – it means the same. As irrational as it may be, the accident becomes personal and the person feels lucky (or unlucky).
If a person really does want good luck – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? – then we need to find the source of luck and try to understand it. Otherwise, throwing salt over our shoulder is a waste of time. And salt.
Whatever ‘luck’ is, this cause of accidents that becomes personal, it is certainly not an entity that we can control with mere symbols. We are talking about a spiritual essence that needs a spiritual response from ourselves if we wish to influence its direction. And for a religious person, this obviously points to prayer.
Prayer can be accompanied by a ‘lucky charm’, be it a rosary, a cross, location, time of day, etc. But these are merely props or prompts. The prayer must come from the heart of the person. A lucky charm has no supplicating ability to pray on our behalf.
Some argue that certain items (relics for example), or rituals (Holy Communion for example) are blessed. Sceptics dismiss this since such things have no soul to be occupied spiritually. And the debate goes on. At a lower level of thought are the mass-produced ‘lucky charms’ sold at inflated prices to people who believe such items holding mystical power, without thinking just when and where in the manufacturing process any mystical power might be infused.
An expensive gem encrusted cross is as powerless as one made from straw. Hail Marys will not improve one’s fortune, neither will observing Ramadan, Feng shui-ing the furniture arrangement in your bedroom, being vegetarian, being circumcised, teetotal, or following any of the host of other things we feel led to observe. At best they are placebos, encouraging a more positive outlook that helps to recognize and seize good opportunities that present themselves.
source: http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/luck.html
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Lucky Song - Dean Martin – Lucky Song
photo credit: Nevada Tumbleweed
Bullyoo bullyoo boy have I got news for you
I got a feeling hap-happy feeling this is my lucky day
Don’t want to sing the blues no more not when I feel this way
I’m gonna rock it ’cause in my pocket I got a load of green
I want to spread the word around so you’ll know what I mean
Bullyoo bullyoo boy have I got news for you
I’m gonna to march march march along the avenue
I’m gonna sing sing sing my lucky song
I’m gonna fly fly fly like little birdies do
Spread your wings and come along
I’m gonna live live live it up along the way
So tell me how how can things go wrong
Hey brother what a hey day this has been my lucky pay day
And my lucky song
Bullyoo bullyoo boy have I got news for you
I’m gonna to march march march along the avenue
I’m gonna sing sing sing my lucky song
I’m gonna fly fly fly like little birdies do
Spread your wings and come along
I’m gonna live live live it up along the way
So tell me how how can things go wrong
Hey brother what a hey day this has been my lucky pay day
And my lucky song
My lucky lucky song
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The Lucky One - Alison Krauss
Verse 1
You're the lucky one,
so I've been told.
As free as a wind blowin' down the road.
Loved by many,
hated by none.
I'd say you were lucky 'cause I know what you've done.
Not a care in the world, not a worry in sight,
Everything's gonna be alright,
Cause you're the lucky one.
(Verse #2)
You're the lucky one,
always havin' fun.
A jack of all trades,
a master of none.
You look at the world with a smilin' eye,
and laugh at the devil as his train rolls by.
give you a song and a one night stand,
and you'll be lookin' at a happy man,
Cause you're the lucky one.
(Chorus)
Well, you're blessed, I guess
by never knowin' which road you're choosing.
To you the next best thing to playin' and winnin'
is playin' and losing.
(Verse #3)
You're the lucky one,
I know that now.
Don't ask you why, when, where or how.
You look at the world through your smilin' eye,
and laugh at the devil as his train rolls by.
give you song and a one night stand,
and you'll be lookin' at a happy man.
Cause you're the lucky one.
Break
(Repeat Chorus)
(Verse #4)
You're the lucky one,
I know that now.
Don't ask you why, when, where or how.
No matter where you're at,
That's where you'll be.
You can bet your luck won't follow me.
Just give you a song and a one night stand,
you'll be lookin' at a happy man.
Cause you're the lucky one.
