"Evviva gli sposi" - "hurray for the newlyweds" - Some Italian traditions

A wedding tradition, borrowed from England, is the ancient Victorian tradition for brides to wear or carry "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" during the ceremony. It is considered good luck to do so. Another addition to this custom is to wear a coin in one's shoe to bring prosperity. The full text of the verse is: Something old, something new, Something borrowed, something blue, And silver sixpence in your shoe. 'Something old and something new symbolize' the passage from childhood to an adult condition; 'something borrowed' means asking to someone special to be very close to you during the wedding ceremony; 'something blue' reminds the Hebraic custom to adorn the brides with a blue ribbon, symbol of purity, love and fidelity. In Italy, because it is impossible to find a silver sixpence, this part has been replaced with 'something given'. An further modern Italian addition is that of wearing red underwear, a funny New Year's tradition to attract good luck.

In Italy rain on the wedding day means good luck for the bride and the couple ('sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata). One popular custom is a toast "Evviva gli sposi" (hurray for the newlyweds), usually made by a male guest after a few glasses of wine, or by all wedding guests: 'bacio, bacio!" (a kiss, a kiss)  asking the bride and the groom to stand up and kiss, and show their love for all the guests to see.

In Campania the ancient tradition of a 'Serenade' is still alive in some smaller towns of this region. The evening before the wedding day the fiancé goes under the house of his future wife with some local singers and dedicates her a love song waiting  to see her on the balcony or window meaning that she has not changed her mind.