Filipino Wedding Superstitions
(taken from Weddings@Work website)
In this day and age, we Filipinos still cling numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis. But as your lola may swear that they are indeed backed up by some past experiences, lolo may dismiss those incidents as mere coincidences.
What are enumerate below are mostly superstitions by the Tagalogs. We’re quite sure there are more from the other regions as these beliefs vary from province to province. Some of the items here are based on Neni Sta. Romana’s book called “Don’t Take a Bath on a Friday” (Tahanan Books, 1996), while others are stuff we heard from our moms and relatives in the provinces from weddings past. These things do come up whenever there’s a wedding in the family.
Some are still adhered to this day primarily because of our “there’s-nothing-to-lose-if-we-comply” attitude; others are totally ignored since people find such things downright ridiculous. Whichever school of thought you subscribe to, we merely compiled this list for reference and entertainment. Notice that some of these may sound like as a convenient excuses to an unfortunate things happening during the big day. It could be our way of coping with unforeseen party poopers. It’s ultimately up to you if you want to follow them, but be warned that one superstition may totally contradict another so don’t go crazy over them. Pardon some of our side comments below some of the items, we really can’t help it!
On Tables
Never clear the table while somebody is still eating or that person will never get married.
On Traveling
Soon-to-weds are said to be accident-prone especially as their altar date draws near; thus, they must avoid traveling and taking long drives before their wedding day.
On Wedding Gifts
Knives and other sharp, pointed objects are said to be bad choices for wedding gifts as giving them will lead to a broken marriage.
Giving an arinola (chamberpot) as a wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to the giver and the newlyweds. (CHEAPSKATE ALERT!!!)
On Wedding Dresses
Brides shouldn’t try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or it will not push through.
On the Wedding Day
The groom who sits down before his bride does during the wedding ceremony will be ‘under-the-saya’ (henpecked husband).
If a bride’s monthly period falls on the wedding day, the couple will be blessed with a lot of children.(One things sure though, no honeymoon baby here!)
Couples must offer eggs to Sta. Clara to pray that the wedding day would be rain-free.
A downpour during the wedding brings prosperity and marital bliss! (So why offer eggs if the rain bring good luck? Smells fishy, maybe it’s the eggs!)
The spouse on whose side the wedding candle is lit last will be a submissve partner.
If the flame dies out on one of the wedding candles, it means the spouse, on whose side the unlit candle belongs to will die ahead of the other.
Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their lives.
The groom must arrive at the church before the bride to avoid bad luck. (Unless you want everyone to panic and make it appear that the bride’s been stood up!)
Accidentally breaking something during the reception (be it a plate or a goblet) brings good luck to the newlyweds.
The bride should ”accidentally’ step on the groom’s foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree with her every whim.
Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or a coin in the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.
On Food
The more food at the reception, the bountiful the blessings the marriage will receive.
On Jewelries
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be a miserable since these gems are considered ‘tears’ of the oysters.
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will never become a miserable wife as the pearls will served as a foil for bad luck and and represent the tears she could have shed if she hasn’t worn any on the wedding day.
On Siblings
It is considered bad luck for siblings to marry within the same year. In the vernacular, this is known as “sukob” or sharing one’s luck with somebody else.
On Unmarried Friends
An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.
In this day and age, we Filipinos still cling numerous widely-held folk beliefs that have no scientific or logical basis. But as your lola may swear that they are indeed backed up by some past experiences, lolo may dismiss those incidents as mere coincidences.
What are enumerate below are mostly superstitions by the Tagalogs. We’re quite sure there are more from the other regions as these beliefs vary from province to province. Some of the items here are based on Neni Sta. Romana’s book called “Don’t Take a Bath on a Friday” (Tahanan Books, 1996), while others are stuff we heard from our moms and relatives in the provinces from weddings past. These things do come up whenever there’s a wedding in the family.
Some are still adhered to this day primarily because of our “there’s-nothing-to-lose-if-we-comply” attitude; others are totally ignored since people find such things downright ridiculous. Whichever school of thought you subscribe to, we merely compiled this list for reference and entertainment. Notice that some of these may sound like as a convenient excuses to an unfortunate things happening during the big day. It could be our way of coping with unforeseen party poopers. It’s ultimately up to you if you want to follow them, but be warned that one superstition may totally contradict another so don’t go crazy over them. Pardon some of our side comments below some of the items, we really can’t help it!
On Tables
Never clear the table while somebody is still eating or that person will never get married.
On Traveling
Soon-to-weds are said to be accident-prone especially as their altar date draws near; thus, they must avoid traveling and taking long drives before their wedding day.
On Wedding Gifts
Knives and other sharp, pointed objects are said to be bad choices for wedding gifts as giving them will lead to a broken marriage.
Giving an arinola (chamberpot) as a wedding gift is believed to bring good luck to the giver and the newlyweds. (CHEAPSKATE ALERT!!!)
On Wedding Dresses
Brides shouldn’t try on her wedding dress before the wedding day or it will not push through.
On the Wedding Day
The groom who sits down before his bride does during the wedding ceremony will be ‘under-the-saya’ (henpecked husband).
If a bride’s monthly period falls on the wedding day, the couple will be blessed with a lot of children.(One things sure though, no honeymoon baby here!)
Couples must offer eggs to Sta. Clara to pray that the wedding day would be rain-free.
A downpour during the wedding brings prosperity and marital bliss! (So why offer eggs if the rain bring good luck? Smells fishy, maybe it’s the eggs!)
The spouse on whose side the wedding candle is lit last will be a submissve partner.
If the flame dies out on one of the wedding candles, it means the spouse, on whose side the unlit candle belongs to will die ahead of the other.
Throwing rice confetti at the newlyweds will bring them prosperity all their lives.
The groom must arrive at the church before the bride to avoid bad luck. (Unless you want everyone to panic and make it appear that the bride’s been stood up!)
Accidentally breaking something during the reception (be it a plate or a goblet) brings good luck to the newlyweds.
The bride should ”accidentally’ step on the groom’s foot while walking towards the altar if she wants him to agree with her every whim.
Dropping the wedding ring, the veil or a coin in the arrhae during the ceremony spells unhappiness for the couple.
On Food
The more food at the reception, the bountiful the blessings the marriage will receive.
On Jewelries
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will be a miserable since these gems are considered ‘tears’ of the oysters.
A bride who wears pearls on her wedding will never become a miserable wife as the pearls will served as a foil for bad luck and and represent the tears she could have shed if she hasn’t worn any on the wedding day.
On Siblings
It is considered bad luck for siblings to marry within the same year. In the vernacular, this is known as “sukob” or sharing one’s luck with somebody else.
On Unmarried Friends
An unmarried woman who follows the footsteps (literally) of the newlyweds will marry soon.