Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Definitions

• Wedding tradition
  Refers to the custom of a bride including something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue in her attire for good luck on her wedding day

• Symbolism
  Represents various elements that are believed to bring good fortune and happiness to the bride on her wedding day

Examples of Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

• She wore a vintage pearl necklace, a lace gown straight from the bridal boutique, carried her sister's bouquet, and slipped on a pair of baby blue heels.

  This classic wedding idiom represents traditions old and new, with the vintage pearls symbolizing the bride's family heritage, the fresh white dress representing the start of her new journey, the borrowed items from her sister signifying unity among the family, and the blue shoes balancing the overall aesthetic.

• In her new job, Sarah brought a few familiar strategies from her previous position, adopted new techniques suggested by her colleagues, borrowed a few office supplies from her friend across the hall, and incorporated her favorite blue pen into her toolkit.

  Here, the idiom represents a blend of new beginnings and old reliabilities in the context of a professional setting. The familiar tactics symbolize the foundation Sarah already has, new tactics reflect the learning process and enhanced productivity under guidance from colleagues, borrowed equipment shows she's not afraid to ask for help, and the blue pen symbolizes Sarah's personal style and preference.

• His imagination was fueled by tales of long-gone mythologies, dystopian fantasies from the page, unique takes suggested by his friend, and a splash of azure ideas.

  In a creative sense, this version of the idiom represents the variety of inspiration that pushes an individual's artistic vision forward. The old tales evoke the sense of traditional narratives, the page reflects current trends in literature, the friend symbolizes community and collaboration, and the blue ideas signify imaginative twists.

• She wanted to keep a few cherished memories close, explore new healing methods recommended by her therapist, borrow insights from her sister's self-care routine, and adopt a calming blue scent into her routine for better sleep.

  This instance of the idiom illustrates a holistic approach to wellbeing, with the cherished memories representing sentimental value, new self-help practices representing proactive engagement, the borrowed techniques symbolizing support from others in her healing journey, and the blue aroma representing a simple, soothing addition to her wellbeing regimen.

• The bride's dress was a beautiful mix of old and new. The vintage lace bodice was paired with a modern A-line skirt, creating a unique and timeless look.

  This idiom is commonly associated with weddings, and refers to the tradition of the bride wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue on her wedding day. The old item represents the continuity of the past, the new item symbolizes a hopeful future, the borrowed item brings good luck, and the blue item signifies fidelity. In this example, the dress is the item being referred to as old, as it's a vintage lace bodice. However, the dress as a whole is new because of the modern skirt.

• The groom's suit was a crisp navy blue, complete with a new white dress shirt and a borrowed pocket square.

  While traditionally the idiom is associated with the bride, the groom can also participate by wearing blue (whichrepresents loyalty and fidelity) and borrowing an item, such as a pocket square, from a married friend as a way to seek good luck in his marriage. In this example, the dress shirt is new, while the pocket square is borrowed.

• The bride's earrings were a borrowed pair from her sister. They were simple and elegant, with a small blue stone on each one.

  The earrings in this example are the item being referred to as borrowed, and they have a blue stone, which meets the requirement of something blue.

• The bridal bouquet featured fresh white flowers, as well as a few blue forget-me-nots.

  In this example, the flowers are the item being referred to as something blue. Forget-me-nots are a classic choice because of their blue color, which symbolizes true forget-me-not love. They also represent remembrance and reflection, making them a fitting addition to a wedding, where the couple's love and vows will be remembered forever.

Conclusion

The idiom "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" is a well-known wedding tradition that is believed to bring good luck to the bride. Each item symbolizes different aspects of luck and happiness, and the tradition is a popular and sentimental part of many weddings.

Origin of "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue"

The origin of the idiom "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" dates back to an old English rhyme that was originally used as a superstition to bring good luck to the bride on her wedding day. The "something old" represents continuity, the "something new" symbolizes optimism for the future, the "something borrowed" is meant to bring happiness from a friend or family member, and the "something blue" stands for purity, love, and fidelity. This tradition has been passed down through generations and is still widely practiced in modern weddings. For example, a bride might wear a piece of her mother's jewelry as the "something old," a new wedding dress as the "something new," a borrowed veil from a friend as the "something borrowed," and a blue garter as the "something blue." This charming tradition adds a special and meaningful touch to the bride's wedding attire.