Although no coins were thrown at my daughter's 21st century southern wedding such a custom is known in the south, albeit mostly in Victorian times.The poor must have appreciated that.
It was a popular custom in Scotland and designed to bring luck and prosperity to the married couple. As for North Eastern weddings I can recall the chucking of coins outside Saint Luke's and the laughter and scramble that took place as a result.
Hopefully others will know more and share their knowledge.
WB
pat arckless re mcquillan i can remember the brde 2 b trowing money out of car window as she drove off with the father2 get wed can u also remember when u christened a child when u came out of church the first child u see of oppositesex got pice of cake with silvercion s in babys never wore peoper clothes till been christened and my grandma gertrude mcquillan ddnt have babies in house till been chrisened
ReplyDeleteI can remember that you were not allowed to take a child into some ones house until it had been christened.Another thing was when you saw a new born baby you had to give it a silver coin.
ReplyDeletei knew the custom of throwing coins at a wedding as "shiggying". (shigeeying). Not many couples get married now and if they do they go to the Seychelles or some expensive place abroad. Perhaps they throw the coins to the local kids. We used to gather outside the brides house well in advance of her leaving for the church in order to get at the front of the crowd. Who says the world hasn't changed..
ReplyDeletePat Arkless I hope you don't mind me asking if are you related to the late Johnny Mc Quillan?
ReplyDeleteI went to school with Johnny Mc Quillan or John George Mc Quillan as our Headmistress Miss Unsworth used to address him. He was a great lad and always had a smile on his face.
Alfie
ReplyDeleteIt is not many years ago since a woman had to be "churched" after she had a baby. I once got a christening piece from a passing party on the way to have their child baptised. My mother explained the practice to me as I was, as all little lads were, a bit baffled as to being given a present from strangers. Life passes by and every day happenings when I was young are now part of history. As a society we are becoming more estranged from each other as the years roll by and simple customs like the christening piece are fast disappearing.
yeah jonny as he was called was me dad he was only 53 when he died no age was it yep we lived at ladysmith terrace u will know paddy tommy and lottie lorettaainsworth his brother and sisters they just moved to esh last year he did always smile i got some photoes off here of him when he was at st josephs school and of me aunty lor i moved 2 yorkshire 20 yrs ago but have some great memmories of ushaw moor as a kid growing up i love this site xxx
ReplyDeleteits ashame all those traditions aregoing x
ReplyDeleteGood to see so many comments, it can be difficult to "set off" a conversation. The "old traditions" seem to do the trick !
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for all your contributions.