Wedding Magic

Magic or superstition? The customs surrounding a wedding day are countless, their roots stretching back millennia. Some are downright bizarre, others simply bring a wry smile—born of naive or mischievous superstitions. All reflect the spirit of their home region, boldly declaring local identity and prescribing specific behaviors. These genuine rites resurface from the past to pass on memories of a time that’s gone but still felt as near as ever.

Let’s begin in Abruzzo, where weddings take place in the season of “lightened wine”—spring (especially April), again in September, or even during the December holidays. November, dedicated to honoring the dead, is strictly off-limits. In Basilicata, the hallmark custom is the “tree dance,” in which the bride and groom circle a chosen tree—a fertility ritual wishing them a large family.

In Calabria, the notorious “bed dressing” takes center stage: on the eve of the wedding, close relatives from both sides gather to select the bed linens that will adorn the marital bed for that first night. In Campania, a “serenade” is mandatory: the night before the ceremony, the suitor sings love songs and declares his devotion under his beloved’s balcony. In response, she must light a lamp and appear, promising mutual and eternal love.

Romagna offers two beliefs: once the bride slips into her gown, she must not look in a mirror—many pin a hairpin in her hair as a reminder. The groom mustn’t step back over his own threshold once he’s left home, or risk breaking the bond. In Friuli, it’s back to trees: “jointly sawing the trunk” with a two-handled saw symbolizes the couple’s shared strength and their resolve to face life’s challenges together.

In Lazio, legend holds that flowers left on the bride’s doorstep the night before will either stay fresh until dawn or wither into straw, depending on the strength of the couple’s bond. A famous Ligurian saying goes, “Marry in September and you’ll be a widow,” influencing couples’ choice of date. For good luck, some tuck a coin into their shoe—a decidedly uncomfortable gesture, but one said to usher in prosperity.

Up in Lombardy, there’s an entrepreneurial twist: after shredding the groom’s tie into pieces, he attempts to sell each fragment to guests—demonstrating his present and future skill in managing the household budget. In the Marche, ex-lovers find their old gardens reduced to “the straw pile,” an enormous, useless heap. In Molise, brides have long walked beneath arches draped in vintage satin—adorned with dolls and coins—while being showered with flowers and confetti as a blessing of wealth and prosperity.

Still speaking of exes, in Piedmont they pave the path to the altar with sawdust, symbolically drying the tears of those left behind. In Puglia, the “cutting of the white ribbon” ushers the newlyweds on their way. Sardinia can’t do without the “plate toss,” hurling plates filled with sugared almonds and confetti. In Sicily, guests either sprinkle wine at the couple’s doorstep or throw wheat instead of rice for good fortune.

Tuscany forbids retracing one’s steps—if something’s forgotten, the bride or groom must ask a guest for help. In Trentino, the celebrated “good-fortune dance” has the groom’s best friend dancing around the bride-to-be as she snatches as many small dolls as she can from his arms.

What is the “serraglio”? In Umbria, tradition calls for the bride to be “blocked and tied with a rope” on her way to the church—her resolve to break free proves her true desire to marry. In the Aosta Valley, meeting children en route to the altar is considered an auspicious sign. In Veneto, the mother-in-law greets the bride at her own doorstep armed with a broom—a passing of the torch from woman to woman, symbolizing commitment and devotion.

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