A wedding date is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning a wedding.
When deciding, there are many things to consider, including the most popular seasons and wedding dates to avoid depending on the calendar of events. But did you know that specific dates are regarded as lucky wedding dates, and others are said to be unlucky?
Like everyone else, you want to ensure that luck is on your side during your big day. There are many ways superstitious couples use to bring luck, including wearing specific colors and finding something new. But one that is common among many newlyweds is a wedding date.
Read on to learn about the lucky dates to choose and those to avoid.
Key Takeaway
- Cultural beliefs and numerology influence ideas of lucky and unlucky wedding dates.
- Auspicious wedding dates include Akshaya Tritiya for Hindus, December 25 in Christianity, and Spring/Summer equinoxes.
- Inauspicious dates to avoid include Friday the 13th, Leap Day, Tuesdays/Saturdays, and Ghost Month dates.
- Consider religious traditions, numerology, and cultural perspectives when selecting an appropriate and meaningful wedding date.
Exploring Cultural Beliefs and Traditions
The beliefs and traditions surrounding the wedding date can help you pick the best day for your ceremony. Many believe in choosing an auspicious date that brings good luck to their marriage. This date is different depending on the culture.
For instance, Jewish culture encourages members to get married on Tuesdays as it is written in Genesis that on the third day of creation (Tuesday), God looked around and acknowledged that it was good. This is said to be a pleasant day associated with many blessings.
On the other hand, Greeks say that Tuesdays are an unlucky day to get married because Constantinople falls on this day. The Chinese culture and many Asian cultures analyze the zodiac year of the Chinese Calendar when picking the best day to get married. They also rely heavily on Chinese astrology for the projected date and time of the wedding.
Along with the dates, cultures believe certain symbols and omens represent good fortune on the wedding day. For instance, the English lore believes that finding a spider on your wedding dress is a good omen.
Numerology and Finding Auspicious Wedding Dates
Wedding numerology numbers help couples choose a lucky wedding date depending on their energy of numbers. According to this practice, you calculate your auspicious wedding date using your marriage and life path numbers.
Once you calculate these numbers, you can choose a day that is most suitable for you. Note that some numbers go well with others. So, picking numbers that support your energies on your life path and marriage numbers is wise.
To determine your marriage number, you must both determine your life path number and your partner’s. You can do this by adding a single digit of your birth date and then adding the two digits together. After, reduce the resulting number until you get a single digit number unless the numbers are 11, 22, or 33.
For instance, if a person was born on December 12, 1980, 1+2 (day) + (1+2) birth month number + 1 + 9 + 8 + 0= 24
Then, add 2+4=6, where 6 is the life path number.
After figuring out this number for each partner, add them to find the marriage number. If it is a double-digit, reduce it to find a single number.
Auspicious Wedding Dates
Auspicious wedding dates are lucky times to get married and a popular belief in many cultures. There are a few periods, like months, in which most cultures agree it is the best time for a wedding. But most cultures have their own dates and months to get married.
For Chinese weddings, their dates depend on the numerical number obtained by calculating the date on the Chinese Calendar. Sometimes, the couples may choose a date based on their zodiac animal sign.
Hindus view the Akshaya Tritiya as an excellent wedding date. But that is determined by their zodiac sign. Understanding these signs is crucial, as each has its own meaning.
The western cultures forbid weddings between Rogation Sunday and Trinity Sunday. At the same time, the Jews draw inspiration from the bible and creation. Some cultures consider the new moon a lucky date for a wedding, while others use an angel number to pick a day that works for a couple’s new beginnings.
Besides wedding dates, other things are associated with good fortune, like rain on a special day, representing fertility, unity, cleansing, or renewal.
Stories Behind Inauspicious Wedding Dates
Inauspicious wedding dates differ with culture. You may, therefore, find that what one culture regards as the best wedding dates, another may not approve. Here are some wedding date superstitions;
- Getting married during an odd-numbered year is bad luck- this belief may have come from medieval Europe as they believed that numbered years brought wars and death.
- Friday the 13th is not a good number as it is considered unlucky by many cultures and even discourages people from planning their wedding in May entirely. May is the mating season, and many cultures believe that marrying this time is a bad idea.
Potential Auspicious Dates in 2024
- Dates with numerological numbers 1,3,7 and 9 are considered fortunate even though they are not even numbers.
- Wednesdays and weekdays named after the Norse god Odin are said to bring luck in marriages.
- March 20 is another luckiest number as it is the Spring Equinox, symbolizing renewal and a fresh beginning.
- June 21 is the summer solstice and the longest day representing peak vitality, and it is a perfect wedding date.
- August 12, when the Chinese Ghost Festival ends, it takes bad spirits and misfortunes away. It may be a good time to get married as the world has been cleansed from bad spirits.
- December 25 is the day Christ was born, and as per the Christian culture, it is associated with joy, peace, and harmony.
Potential Inauspicious Dates in 2024
Friday 13th
Many cultures consider this day to be unlucky. That is why most people avoid getting married on Friday the 13th. There are two Friday 13th in 2024, September and December 13. It may be wise to avoid tying the knot on these days.
Ides of March
Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC; since then, the date has been considered generally unlucky.
Leap Day
This is a unique and uncommon date. But it is not an excellent choice for a wedding day as it is considered unlucky. Also, who wants to celebrate their wedding anniversary after four years?
This year, the leap day is Thursday, February 29, and the next will be on Tuesday, February 2028.
Tuesdays & Saturdays
Don’t get married on these days if you don’t want the bad omen of conflict and misfortune to follow your marriage.
January 1
Marrying couples are often advised to keep off dates with repeated digits like 1/1. New Year is not a good date for a newlywed couple to tie the knot.
February 2
An even number date that starts with a double digit is not a perfect choice for a wedding.
April 13
Western culture considers the number 13 to be unlucky.
September 9
The Chinese wedding tradition believes it is the start of Ghost Month, and evil spirits return to Earth.
October 28
This date has a special meaning, as it is when the dark moon happens and blocks the moon’s new phase.
Conclusion
Many people do not put a lot of thought into culture and traditions when choosing a wedding date.
But if you are a superstitious person, you should know the marriage date to pick and the one to avoid to take advantage of the lucky effect. Some days are considered unlucky.
It is, therefore, wise to look at your religious traditions when deciding when to tie the knot.
Remember that a wedding is a special occasion and a chance for a fresh start. So start it on a high note, full of blessings and surrounded by close friends.