Scottish
Wedding Culture and Traditions
Penny Bridal or Silver Bridal These festivities, also known as Penny
Weddings, were renown for feasting, drinking, dancing and fighting
and were enjoyed by all except the clergy - who disapproved of such
raucous behaviour. Opinions that were wholeheartedly ignored! Gifts
were made to the newly weds towards the cost of the wedding feast
and the wild celebrations started on the eve of the wedding with
singing, toasts and the ceremony of 'feet washing'. Feet washing
A tub of water was placed in the best room, in which
the bride placed her feet, her female friends then gathered around
to help wash them. A wedding ring from a happily married woman was
previously placed in the tub and it was believed that whoever found
the ring would be the next to get married.
The men folk were outside the door making jokes and
attempting to watch through the doorway. The bridegroom was then
seized by the women and made to sit at the tub. His legs were none
too gently daubed with soot, ashes and cinders - quite a painful
procedure!
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The Wedding Procession
The following day the bridal party made their way
to the church, flower petals being thrown in front of the bride,
but if they encountered a funeral or a pig on the way, it was considered
bad luck and they would return home and set out again. The first
person they encountered was called the first foot and would be given
a coin and a drink of whisky by the bride. He would then have to
accompany the bridal party for one mile before being allowed to
continue on his way.
The Church
Just outside the church they would be met by the clergyman and make
their wedding vows. Then a mass was held in the church, during which
the clergyman blessed food brought by the guests. It was traditional
for the clergyman, however shy, to kiss the bride.
The Celebrations
The guests returned to a relative's home to share
the food and drink. The celebrations were usually held outside with
pipers and dancing and could last all night. A traditional reel
was led by the newly weds, after which the bride danced with the
most prominent person in the room, and then the other guests joined
in.
The couple was finally escorted to their new home
and the groom or groomsmen would throw handfuls of coins on the
ground. Before entering her home, oatcakes or bannocks were broken
above the bride's head and then shared around. The bride could then
be carried over the threshold in case she stumbled - a sign of bad
luck.
The marriage ceremony was completed when the clergyman
blessed the newly weds, their home and their bed.
The Highland custom of CREELING THE BRIDEGROOM
A large basket or 'creel' was filled with stones and
tied to the bridegroom's back. He then had to carry it around the
entire town unless his bride agreed to kiss him. Only if she did,
would his friends allow him to escape from the 'creeling' otherwise
he had to continue until he had completed the circuit of the town.
The Shaim Spring
It was the privilege of the bride to choose the music
for the 'shaim spring', which she danced with the bridegroom maids
and best man.
Handfasting
In the eighteenth century the custom of handfasting
was observed. A couple would live together for a year and a day,
at which time they could decide whether to part or make a lifelong
commitment. It was considered more important for the bride to be
experienced and fertile than to be a virgin.
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