Sona Posahd Latha!

Imagine Rob and Anton in skirts getting married to the girls ... more specifically kilts. With Anton having a bit of Scotch-Irish in him, could happen. Not sure where in the genetics our Scottish appears, but I do know it's in Grandpa Lauritzen's line and is probably from the maternal side with the Holmes. Many of the traditions for the Scotch are similar to their Irish neighbors, so we'll only take a look at the different ones.

Scottish brides will put a sprig of heather in their bouquets. It's the legendary flower of Scotland. Typically the flower is purple in hue, but brides select a rare white blossom for their bouquet. It's considered lucky. Legend has it, a betrothed woman's fiance died in battle during the 3rd century A.D, but prior to dying sent on a bouquet of heather to show his undying love for her. As she wept, her tears turned the purple heather white. She supposedly said, "Although it is the symbol of my sorrow, may the white heather bring good fortune to all who find it." Thus it's placed in bride's bouquet. Thistles, also tradition in Scotland, are also sometimes used in bouquets.

On the way to church, the bridal party will march behind a bagpiper or fiddler. For good luck, they must cross water twice. Oftentimes the bagpiper will also play the bride down the aisle.

During the wedding, the pinning of the tartan takes place where the family bestows the bride with a pin or sash of the clan's plaid fabric. They may also present the bride with the family sword to be given to their first born son.

Some couples say their vows before the "oathing stone" and even have their vows or names carved into it - this is was set in stone. The stone would be one the couple either got from Scotland or found together.

As the newlyweds leave the church, guests will throw confetti on the couple, which is sometimes shaped as shamrocks or the pattern of the clan tartan. And the couple will throw coins to the little children, called the Scramble, to spread their good fortune.

After the wedding, the bridal party will all sip whiskey or brandy from a two-handed wooden or silver cup, the Scottish quaich. It symbolized the bonding of the couple.

The wedding cake is fruitcake in two tiers. One for the reception guests and the other saved for celebration of their first born child. The cakes are actually baked when the couple gets engaged and are saved for the wedding. Sometimes charms were baked into the cake which guests would pull out. The charms would signify good luck, love, financial success, a stable life or dreams coming true.

The Lang Reel is the last dance for the guests and wedding party. They will dance away from the event and pass the homes off all who attended. Guests leave the dance when the group gets to their home That would be tricky for our weddings with people coming from all over the country.

As a gift, the groom will give his bride a luckenbooth - a love token brooch made of two intertwined hearts, Scottish thistle and a crown,similar to the Irish Claddagh ring in providing luck or protection to the owner. Sometimes the luckenbooth is engraved with messages, initials or dates. The word means "locked booths" named for booths where items were sold in Edinburgh.

One clever gift for the couple is the "make up bell." It is hung in a prominent place in the home. When the couple has an argument, the husband or wife can ring the bell which signifies the end of the discussion and absolves anyone of responsibility for the disagreement.

The Scottish wedding blessing is "Mi\le fa\ilte dhuit le d'bhre/id, Fad do re/ gun robh thu sla\n. Mo/ran la\ithean dhuit is si\th, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'ni\ bhi fa\," which means "A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage. May you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness, and with riches."

Sona Posahd Latha! (Happy Wedding Day in Scottish Gaelic).

Discussion: Which if the above traditions were intriguing to you? Which were of no interest?

Prayer: Lord God, You are the creator of all these different nationalities. How fun that we get to learn so much about them! We love you and thank you for all Your children. In Jesus, Amen.