What not to give to newlyweds for a wedding

Few of us really believe in omens, but only until it comes to some important circumstance or moment in life. A wedding is just such an event.

Of course, the guests wish the bride and groom only the best. But on the eve of the holiday, all sorts of superstitions involuntarily come to mind: about the weather, outfits, signs of attention. So, we’ll tell you right now what you can’t give to newlyweds for a wedding, what kind of gift can cause discord, and how to neutralize the sign of lack of money.

Forks and knives

If there are no bad signs regarding spoons as such, then knives and forks are a completely different matter. They say that sharp corners and pointed edges attract evil spirits into the house , and the cutlery itself brings the energy of destruction, quarrel, conflict and discord into the family. Therefore, they cannot be given as a wedding gift, unless, of course, the guest secretly wishes something bad for the young couple. In the West, by the way, this sign also works: in the UK or the USA, no one will be happy with gift knives.

If you still regret giving up a gift you like, just give the guest a symbolic amount for it. This way you will “buy back” the cutlery, and it will be your purchase, and not someone else’s gift.

Candles, icons, crosses are not the best wedding gifts

As a rule, icons for newlyweds are chosen by parents and given to them before the wedding ceremony, thereby blessing them for a happy life. Such a gift from other guests may look inappropriate, since faith and attitude towards it are very personal for each person. If the newlyweds want to get married, they will choose all the necessary accessories for themselves.

Bed linen and towels

Bed linens are also considered an unwanted wedding gift. Although at all times in Rus' a dowry was collected for the bride, it was usually prepared by the girl herself together with her mother. Therefore, they believe that such a gift is appropriate only from relatives. Then it carries favorable energy.

If bed linen is given by someone not from the family, it can do a disservice to the young couple. There is even an opinion that the number of donated sets of underwear means the number of future mistresses of the spouse.

Another belief is related to the fact that a towel and a sheet resemble a shroud in which a deceased person is wrapped and promise death. Not the most positive sign on your wedding day, is it?

When is a vase appropriate as a gift?

A small vase received as a gift will undoubtedly please the owner of the house. The container should be chosen based on the interior and style of the home of the person for whom the gift is intended. According to etiquette standards, it is not recommended to give vases that are too large. There may not be a suitable place for such a gift. You can present a large vase only if the hero of the occasion hints that he would like to receive it.

A vase given as a gift would be appropriate in the following situations:

birthdays of “beautiful ladies” (girlfriend, wife, mother, close friend, sister, grandmother);
International Women's Day;
anniversaries, anniversaries;
birth or baptism of a child;
professional holidays;
Mother's Day and other holidays.

A beautiful vase made of crystal, glass or ceramics is an original, but at the same time practical present. You can “unique” a plain vase by writing on it a congratulation to the hero of the occasion with special paints or decorating the container with rhinestones, sequins, etc.

Antiques

Old items retain the energy of their previous owners . And this is the main reason why superstitious guests believe that such things should not be given as gifts on the wedding day. After all, there’s no way to know – the antiques could previously have belonged to someone with a very sad fate or an unpleasant character, and this negative will certainly be transferred to the newlyweds’ home.

Therefore, if you are in doubt, you should give something new, antique-style, for your wedding.

Don't miss: Memorable wedding gift ideas for newlyweds

Superstitions and signs

In order not to make a mistake when choosing a vase as a gift, you should listen to popular superstitions and signs:

the vase should not have scratches, cracks, chips; a vessel with defects portends bad events (family quarrels, difficulties at work, financial losses);
the vase can only be presented to close people, since receiving such a gift from a stranger threatens the new owners with problems;
You cannot give an empty vase as a gift, as this will bring trouble to the recipient’s house. The container must be filled. The best option is a bouquet of flowers that comes with a vase. If you are not going to present flowers, then you will need to put a coin, a small card with wishes, or a small soft toy at the bottom of the container.

Empty boxes, piggy banks and vases

In principle, any empty object, be it a box, a vase or a wallet, symbolizes a difficult, poor life full of deprivation. But this is not what we wish for young people! Therefore, in order not to provoke unnecessary worries, it is better not to give such an ambiguous gift for a wedding.

But if it does end up among the “offerings,” neutralize the effect of the bad omen by putting a few coins or bills inside. Then the box of bad wishes will immediately become a symbol of the future well-being of the family.

Taboo on intimate wedding gifts

Many guests may wonder why they can’t give bedding to newlyweds for a wedding, but in fact, such a gift does not meet the rules of etiquette. You should not give young people too intimate and personal items, for example, underwear or pajamas. Even if you're buying a wedding gift for a friend, it should be as neutral as possible.

Pearls and handkerchiefs

As for pearls, they cannot only be given as a gift, but also worn by the bride at the wedding. After all, according to superstition, it means tears - and far from tears of joy. The same applies to handkerchiefs. This superstition is especially strong in Asian countries, where they mean tears of grief, sweat of hard work and illness. In China, a “handkerchief” sounds like a farewell; taking it on a wedding day means the separation of lovers.

But in Catholic families, on the contrary, handkerchiefs can be given as gifts. Often they even become an heirloom, “something old” that the bride takes with her on her wedding day.

If you want to ruin your life, give them knives! What should you not give as a wedding gift?

Wedding omens are a dangerous thing. You should not risk gifts associated with bad omens, because the newlyweds or their close relatives may turn out to be superstitious . But you don’t want to spoil the mood for the rest of the evening for yourself and the hosts of the banquet? Then it’s worth knowing what gifts can bring trouble to the owner:

Knives, forks and other sharp objects. Sharp cutlery, especially knives, are a classic. From a young age, wise elders teach that knives are the worst gift for any holiday. Why? Gifted knives, according to the sign, lead to discord and disagreement in the family. By the way, it is not recommended to give such things as pins, needles and even razors. But for every action, as you know, there is a reaction. Likewise, the negative impact of this sign can be avoided by resorting to cunning. Just take a coin from the newlyweds for your gift and then it will be considered not a gift, but a product.
Watch. “Don’t give a watch as a gift – it will lead to separation,” our grandmothers told us from childhood. This gift tops the list of prohibited wedding gifts, because it can cause divorce or even illness of one of the family members.
Natural pearls. Since ancient times, snow-white pearls have symbolized tears, so they should not be present in a gift in any form, be it an elegant decoration or decorating any item.

According to superstitions, natural pearls should not be given as gifts for a wedding.

Fragile products. Breakable items are poor gift ideas. Fragile products are a symbol of fragility and relationships, so an accidentally broken luxurious crystal vase given to spouses on their wedding day promises them discord in the family and even threatens divorce.
Candles. Any candle sooner or later faces extinction. You should not provoke fate by giving gifts that indicate that feelings are not durable and may soon fade away.
Antiques. Some guests like to present interior items to the newlyweds for their wedding. But it is important to remember that under no circumstances should you use antiques and other used items as this, because things absorb the energy of their old owners. Negative energy can cause newlyweds to repeat old mistakes, which is completely unnecessary. The list of prohibited items includes paintings, figurines, furniture and other rare items.
Mirror. There are many signs with mirrors. They are believed to connect other worlds, so it is recommended to avoid using them as a gift in any case. For newlyweds, such a wedding present promises quarrels and scandals. In addition, a mirror is an attribute of narcissism, and can lead to selfishness on the part of one or even both family members.

What not to give as a wedding gift: signs about the mirror

Vases. It is allowed to give vases, but not empty ones, because this portends childlessness. Place a luxurious flower bouquet in a beautiful vase and present it to the newlyweds! However, a vase is one of those fragile things that can break, so you should also be careful with such gifts.
Handkerchiefs. It would seem that this is just a piece of matter, but no! After all, it can bring a lot of tears to a newly-made family.
Cufflinks and ties. These things cannot be given to a man in order to avoid the fate of a henpecked man.
Hair accessories. The bride, in turn, should not give combs, hairpins, combs and other hair accessories, because they can cause quarrels in the family.
Wallets, bags, suitcases. These items can only be given if they are filled with something, but in no case empty.
Roses. The sharp thorns of these luxurious flowers can cause young people not only physical injuries, but also unpleasant pricks of fate.

Is it possible to give roses for a wedding?

Natural flowers. Plants in pots are a bad gift because they promise problems with the health of children or even childlessness.

What other gifts should not be given to young people?

Other items that should not be given as wedding gifts include suitcases. They can provoke the departure of one of the spouses from the family. Another prohibition concerns icons, since this is a very personal gift that would only be appropriate from parents or closest people who want to bless a young family. Also avoid buying any breakable items, candles, potted plants, or paintings or figurines that depict someone alone.

But the best option is to ask the newlyweds in advance what they would like or, conversely, would absolutely not want to receive for the wedding. Based on your wishes, you should choose the perfect gift.

Is it possible to give an expensive watch for a wedding?

If you doubt whether watches are given to newlyweds as a wedding gift, then you are doing the right thing. They are considered unwanted surprises, regardless of cost. Wall-mounted, wrist-mounted, gold (especially), with a cuckoo – it doesn’t matter. The sign says that if you give any watch as a gift for a wedding, you can bring misfortune to a young family, even death: either because they count down time, or because they tend to stop.

Guided by the rules of etiquette

According to etiquette standards, it is not advisable to give gifts of bulky and large items (including vases, floor lamps and paintings). They may not fit into the interior decoration of the home and burden the owners, causing them unnecessary trouble. The exception is those special cases when you were transparently hinted or directly ordered just such a colossal gift.

From the perspective of worldly wisdom, it is recommended not to give gifts of overly fragile items, such as vases made of very thin glass, because they can easily break and seriously upset the owner.

What do beliefs and traditions say? Does such a gift carry negative energy or negative consequences?

How to get around bad omens if you decide to give something from the forbidden list

If you have already bought a set of kitchen knives or a large framed mirror for the hallway as a wedding gift, then don’t be upset. Any omen can be bypassed, and the newlyweds can be convinced that the evil forces of omen do not apply to them in a very simple way.

When you give as a gift something from the undesirable list, which includes all the bad gifts, according to signs and superstitions, then you can pretend that you are not giving, but selling such a necessary thing in the household. Take a small coin for a suitcase, watch or china set so that the omen does not work. After all, this is no longer a gift, but a good thing bought for one ruble, which means it’s just a good deal, and no superstitions apply to it.

If you are not sure that the young couple will not be upset about your gift when they see something forbidden in the packaging box, then simply attach a price tag to the package immediately. For example, wrap a large hallway mirror, tie a bow on it, and attach a large, clearly visible tag to it that says “Price 1 ruble.” Then your gift immediately goes into the category of purchased goods, which are not affected by any signs.

If you don’t know whether the newlyweds believe in omens or not, try to make sure that your gift does not upset or offend the young couple, but brings them only joyful feelings and a lot of happiness in their future life together.