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Something old

Posted by Mark Corden on December 03, 2003

In the description for the wedding day saying, 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, (and) something blue' given here in the phrase meanings section, the end of the rhyme, 'and a silver sixpence in her shoe', is missed out. Whilst this is archaic, should it be included, or at least referred to?
As for the origin (which isn't mentioned), to the best of my knowledge it is a Victorian saying: the old representing a link to the past, the new symbolising a new life, the borrowed showing the continuation of support from family and friends, the blue representing purity (brides would marry in blue before Queen Victoria changed the trend by marrying in white), and the sixpence representing future prosperity.

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