Deean’t o’ Friday buy yer ring,
O’ Friday deean’t put t’ spurrings in,
Deean’t wed o’ Friday. Think on o’ this,
Nowther blue ner green mun match her dhriss.
If during the ceremony the sun is obscured for a short time, and then bursts forth shining on the couple, happy will such a bride be. For
Blessed is t’ bride ’at t’ sun shines on,
An’ blessed is t’ deead ’at t’ rain rains on.
Years ago, it was the custom, in many parts of Cleveland, for the bride and bridegroom to leap over a form on leaving the church porch. On this feat being accomplished, a gun was fired, this often being charged with feathers. At Guisborough the firing of guns was continued throughout the whole route. And in many parts of Cleveland, meeting the bridal procession with hot pots was common; these were bowls filled with a kind of steaming punch, and as the bridal party were expected to drink from every hot pot, one can well imagine and understand the revelry which so often took place, especially when the hot pots were numerous. Afterwards, these pots were carried from door to door, a plate covered with a saucer being also presented; a gift of money was slipped under the saucer, given to enable the hot pot to be replenished. In the Staithes district, if a guest stepped in any kind of filth on his or her way to the house, on no account would it be wiped off, it being considered very unlucky to do so. I believe, at that time, sanded floors and not carpets were the rule.
On passing through the church gates, the bridegroom usually threw a handful of coppers amongst the crowd. A man now headed the procession, carrying under his arm a young cockerel, which he made continually to ‘skrike oot’; this could only be silenced by the payment of bride’s money. On arriving at the bride’s home, she was met on the doorstep, and presented with a small cake on a plate. A little of this she would eat, throwing the remainder over her head, typical of the hope that they might always have plenty and something to spare. She then handed the plate to her husband; this he threw over his head, their future happiness depending upon its being broken[13].
The race for the bride’s garter was a common custom in former times, its possession being held in high esteem, and valued as a potent love charm.