Page 132 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2026

Something Borrrrowed, Something Blue
Chances are you’re familiar with more wedding traditions than you might realize. Whether that be a bride wearing white on the big day, a special dance, or a wedding cake—all of these are traditions found in a variety of cultures.
One popular wedding tradition originated in Lancashire, England in the 1800s: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” and the oft forgotten, “a sixpence in your shoe.” The earliest written reference to this rhyme is in an issue
of St. James Magazine from 1871. While we may be familiar with this saying, do we really know what it means?
Origins of the phrase can differ, but most agree
that the purpose is to help protect the new couple, specifically the bride, from the evil eye and curses. The objects gathered are meant to help the newlyweds as they enter their marriage and bring anything from health and fertility, to fortune and luck, to overall happiness.
How exactly can a bride, or the couple, incorporate these traditions in the modern world, especially since the sixpence stopped being made in the 1980s? (Hence why this part of the rhyme has dropped off over the years.)
story by Victoria Snyder Something Old
This portion of the tradition is meant to honor one’s past and family. It can be taken quite literally, like wearing something a mother or grandmother used on their wedding day or more figuratively, like carrying a picture of a loved one in a locket.
Something New
The meaning of this object hasn’t changed much throughout time. It’s meant to represent a fresh start and optimism for the future, focusing on the new life the couple is starting together.
Nowadays, this part of the rhyme can be satisfied with a variety of things, from a new wedding dress,
a new vintage pair of shoes (you can check off something new and something old with this!), or a gift from your future spouse or their family.
Something Borrowed
Traditionally, the item was given to the bride by a woman in the family or friend who had a successful marriage and healthy children. It’s supposed to
132 | February 2026
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living