One of the most outward symbols of Irish relationships and love is the Claddagh Ring. You may recognize them, a heart toped with a crown and encircled by hands. The meaning behind these symbols are that the heart means love, the crown means loyalty and the hands mean friendship.
In America many people will wear them as a sign of their heritage and an outward symbol of a person?s availability. With a quick glance you can tell if the woman or man is single or in a relationship (if the point of the heart is facing towards the knuckle of either hand this means "in a relationship" and the point facing away from the knuckle means "single").
In Ireland the ring takes on a deeper meaning. The ring is the bride's wedding band and there are stricter rules for wearing it. The more significant rule for this post is that for a wedding band, the ring is worn with the point of the heart facing the knuckle on the left hand.
Another Irish tradition is that the couple walks to the church together and on-onlookers throw rice and larger items to bless the marriage.
Also the Irish have strict days on which to get married. They will not have weddings on Sunday, Lent or Christmas. The Irish are very religious and the will not put God before themselves.
As with the most famous day in Irish culture, St. Patrick's Day is considered to be the luckiest wedding day.
There are also Irish sayings for times in the year and the week that are best to get married. The sayings are the days of the week and the months of the year respectfully:
Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday the best day of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
Saturday no day at all,
Marry when the year is new, always loving, kind, and true.
When February birds do mate, you may wed, nor dread your fate.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know.
?Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man.
Marry in the month of May, you will surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses blow, over land and sea you'll go.
They who in July do wed, must labor always for their bread.
Whoever wed in August be, many a change are sure to see.
Marry in September's shine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.
if you wed in bleak November, only joy will come, remember.
When December's rain fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Lastly, I leave you with a Irish toast that I found and thought suitable for an Irish wedding post.
When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven!
Thanks to the following websites for the information.
http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/west_europe_traditions/irish_traditions.html
http://www.romanceclass.com/weddings/ireland/
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