Ireland is famous for its wedding traditions and there are so many that entire books have been dedicated to the subject. Here we look at some of the most interesting traditions ranging from horseshoes to geese to cuckoos!



Tying the Knot
‘Tying the Knot’ has become part of generic wedding vocabulary now around the world. But where does the saying come from? It actually originates from an old Irish saying and symbolizes the marriage bond in a similar way to how most people would exchange rings as part of the modern wedding ceremony. In earlier times, at one of the key points in the wedding ceremony, the couple would put their hands together and a colorful ribbon or cord would be wound around their hands as they vowed to spend the rest of their lives together. Some people still continue this tradition today building it in to their ceremonies.

A Porcelain Horseshoe
Another ancient tradition in Ireland was for a bride to carry around a real horseshoe on their wedding day. This was said to bring them luck on their wedding day which would continue in to the rest of their lives. It was a heavy and cumbersome item to be carrying around, so the tradition later evolved in to carrying around a lighter porcelain horseshoe instead. Another practice, which exists to this day, is to incorporate a horseshoe symbol or miniature or cloth horseshoe in to the wedding garments or the wedding bouquet.   

Your Goose is Cooked!
‘His goose is cooked’ is a humorous saying to describe that a male is now ‘off the market’ or ‘taken’. This saying has a basis in reality and again comes from an Irish tradition. As custom had it, the groom was invited to the bride’s house right before the wedding and a full goose would be cooked in his honor. This was called 'Eatin’ the Gander', hence the saying ‘his goose is cooked.’

The ‘Honey’ Moon
Many people ask about the description ‘honeymoon’. One possible explanation again derives from Ireland. Mead is a form of sweet tasting honey wine that was traditionally served at Bunratty Castle in County Clare at their medieval banquets. (They still reenact these banquets at the castle to this day). This recipe, which is said to be the oldest drink in Ireland, was consumed at weddings as it was thought that it promoted virility. Couples were also encouraged to drink mead for a full month after the wedding from special goblets, hence the word ‘honeymoon’.

There are many other Irish wedding traditions and sayings, unsurprisingly dominated by the weather and nature. Here are some of our favorites:

• It was a tradition for couples to eat oatmeal and salt at the start of their wedding reception. They would consume three mouthfuls each as a protection against the power of the ‘evil eye’.
• During the wedding dance, the bride was to take care not to take both feet off the floor – otherwise the fairies would get the upper hand. It was also said to be bad luck for the bride or groom to sing at their own wedding!
• It was also said to be bad luck for it to rain on a wedding day. Good weather meant good luck and many people, still to this day, leave a statue of the Infant of Prague outside their houses the night before the wedding.
• And finally, one of the more unusual Irish traditions was for the new Mother-in-law to break a piece of wedding cake over the head of the bride as she entered the house after the ceremony and this would mean that they would be friends for life!