Thursday, June 30, 2011

Something Old, Something New



I'm playing along with a challenge today that is asking to use something old and something new on your project.  I thought it would be interesting to find out a little more about this well known saying. 

The second line of this old saying actually hints at its origin. The complete phrase is:

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.
As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."
And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings.*

Very interesting, I've learned something new today! 



For the new on my card I used an embossing folder from QuicKutz which I was thrilled to learn would work in my Cuttlebug, along with my new stamp, the sentiment (from Hampton Art) make a big wish.  I found this stamp in the $1.00 bin at Michaels along with several others I just had to have.  They really have some neat things in those bins so check them out the next time you visit a Michaels store.  For the old on my card I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in antique linen, some rhinestones and a birthday cake embellishment.  
I've quite enjoyed this challenge today at Splitcoast Stampers.  Not only do I have fun creating I find I learn a lot along the way, and that's a good thing!
*Something Old, Something New - Information provided by Yahoo

Wherever you are in your day, I hope you're enjoying it!
Wishing you many wonderful creations.
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2 comments:

  1. Over recent years here in the UK most folk have left out the 'sixpence' part of this saying - whether because it has been forgotten over time or folk no longer know what a sixpence is, I'm not sure. I had my dress as the 'new', a locket with photos of my grandparents in was my 'old & borrowed' and the 'blue' was completed by me embroidering blue centres to the daisies round the bottom of my petticoat. I couldn't have a sixpence in my shoe as I had open-toes so I had a sixpence charm on my silver bracelet along with a horseshoe & key charms for luck.

    I love the card you have created - good luck with the challenge.

    Toni xx

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  2. Thank you so much for your lovely, kind comments.

    I think you must be a mind reader as I was only thinking earlier that it might be a good idea to go a bit paler on the walls - lemon or perhaps buttermilk are being considered at the moment. Hugs.

    Toni xx

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