Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

This famous poem represents traditional wedding gifts. A sixpence was a minted British coin from around 1550-1967. It was worth six pennies and was made from silver. It is believed that the poem originated in the Victorian era of England.

Each part of the poem mentions a good-luck token that should be given to the bride. It is said that she should carry all of these tokens on her big day, so that her marriage will be a very happy one. Something old should be a gift given to the bride to symbolize her past. Something new should be given to her as a way to symbolize her future. A friend or a family member that is already happily married should give the bride something of hers to borrow. This is to remind her that she can always rely on her family and friends.

As for the blue, this color has been associated with weddings for many centuries. In ancient Rome, for instance, the brides wore blue on their wedding day. Purity has also been associated with the color blue, and up until the 19th century, blue was a very popular color choice for wedding gowns. Some believe this to be because of a proverb that says, Marry in blue, love be true.

The silver sixpence was said to have symbolized wealth and financial stability. Brides were supposed to wear them in their shoes. It is also an old Scottish, good luck custom for the groom to put a silver coin under his foot. In modern times, a penny or a dime can be used instead of a sixpence, although some wedding stores still sell sixpences as gifts.

Another wedding tradition that still goes on today is giving the couple homemade gifts. Friends and family members would sew clothing items, quilts, hair ribbons, bonnets etc., and even craft items such as rocking chairs and other furniture. Books have also been given as traditional wedding gifts. In the old days the couple would be given copies of religious books, such as the Bible as a gift. Some couples still receive them, especially if their wedding is held at a church.

As time went on, it became a tradition to give both the bride and groom practical wedding gifts. This is still a common practice today. Practical gifts can include home appliances, gift baskets, wine, champaign, food, and more. These are the types of gifts that can be found anywhere. All though practical, everyone enjoys them. These are traditionally known as safe gifts that nobody can go wrong with giving.

If you plan on attending a wedding soon, you can give the bride and groom a practical gift, a unique gift, a personalized gift, a handmade gift, or a traditional gift. If you think the couple will enjoy an old fashioned gift, then why not give them something that has had special, symbolic meaning for many years? Wedding gifts have been a tradition for many centuries, so why not present them with something that has special meaning and symbolism?