Royal wedding a learning experience
The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was hot news. It's been estimated that two billion people worldwide watched the event live last Friday.
I learned something new about British tradition and wedding conventions. I discovered that the bride must have 'something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue' on her wedding day.
Something old is a link to the past and the bride's family. In Kate's case, this was the lace-making techniques used in her wedding dress.
Something new brings good luck - Kate's diamond earrings were given by her parents.
Something borrowed means someone will always support you - Kate borrowed a Cartier Halo tiara from her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
Something blue denotes the bride's purity - a blue ribbon was woven into Kate's dress.
Chilli Leung Tze-yin, Pooi To Middle School
From the Editor
Thank you for your letter, Chilli. There is a lot to learn about British culture and the royal wedding, and you chose an excellent part of it. Yes, many Western brides do follow the tradition of having something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, but many forget the last bit of the rhyme: and a sixpence in her shoe.
Like most cultures, Western brides also long for wealth and good luck and the last part is supposed to ensure the couple has prosperity in their marriage. A sixpence was an old British coin.
On her wedding day, Kate had the first four items, but there was no news on the sixpence. She probably didn't need the extra luck.
Susan, Editor
