Embroidery for Luck - A Belgian Tradition

Forever the world’s source of elegant tapestries and embroidery, Belgian tradition has it that a bride should make and embroider a handkerchief to carry during her wedding, complete with her name and wedding date. Just as you save the top tier of your wedding cake to be eaten again on your first anniversary, so you are to save your handkerchief as well. Tradition stipulates that you should frame your handkerchief until the next wedding in your immediate family (daughter or daughter-in-law), at which time a new name and date would be embroidered and the tradition would continue. If you are the first to begin this tradition, add a bit of antiquity by embroidering the names and dates of your mother’s and grandmother’s wedding dates. Legend has it that your tears are a lucky sign for farmers…tears signifying rain for their crops.