“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

General information about Item:

  • Verbal & Customary folklore; Material folklore; Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Informant: Michelle Jacobs
  • Date collected: May 24, 2020

Informant data:

Michelle Jacobs is a longtime resident of the Hampton Roads area in southeastern Virginia. She is a librarian who enjoys reading books and researching the culture of the South.

Contextual data:

-Cultural context: Weddings are traditionally massive events in the South. They represent a significant union between two people and a commitment to a lifelong journey together. The rhyme’s exact origins appear to be unknown or foreign, but they nonetheless represent a helpful piece of good luck before making a huge decision.

-Social context: These instructions are usually provided to the bride by her mother or her friends, who help the bride find and put on the items.

Item:

On your Wedding Day, wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”

Transcript:

“So, there are lots of wedding superstitions…the bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, all for good luck. I guess it arises because we all wanna feel like we’re bringing ourselves good luck when we’re about to embark on this, um, big thing.”

Collector’s comments:

There’s definitely something to be said about the items contributing to the excitement of the day as well. Michelle’s eyes lit up when talking about her Wedding Day and the overwhelming feelings of excitement when going through with the traditions.

Collector’s name: Jack Jacobs

Tags/Keywords:

-Material folklore

-Weddings