“Rainy marriage, happy wedding” … or “older marriage, happy marriage”? The debates on the question are endless. Decryption of this expression used in rainy weather during unions.
When the rain invites itself on a wedding day, someone never misses someone to slip this well -known sentence: “Rainy marriage, happy marriage.” A comforting way of transforming the drops into an omen of happiness. However, there is always a protest spirit to correct by affirming that the real expression is rather: “Older wedding, happy marriage. “And here the discussions come alive, between defenders of traditions and lovers of puns. So what is the original version, and which is only a modern invention? We conducted the investigation to decide this linguistic debate!
Contrary to what is said, originally, the real expression is “rainy marriage, happy, windy, unhappy marriage”. This version, attested in ancient writings, is prior to “older marriage, happy marriage”, which would not have emerged until the end of the 20th century. In addition, “older marriage, happy marriage” is found in other languages, such as Spanish with “Boda Lluviosa, Boda Feliz”, where meaning and words leave no room for ambiguity. This version refers to the idea that getting married more maturity and experience guarantees a solid union. An interpretation supported by the Larousse dictionary, which believes that an older marriage, and therefore of experience, would be a guarantee of lasting happiness.
On the other hand, the French Academy does not necessarily agree. The institution decided the debate in 2016: “The older wedding form, happy marriage”, beyond the play on words that she creates with popular expression, is never used. ” In addition, in the expression “rainy marriage, happy marriage”, comes to strengthen another idea, especially in matters of prosperity. “So we say” rainy marriage, happy marriage “, but also” if it rains on wedding day, the crowns will enter the household “, underlines the French Academy.
This is explained by the symbolism of rain, associated for centuries with fertility and abundance for centuries. At a time when harvests depended directly on precipitation, the rain was perceived as a sign of luck, promising stable income for the home. In addition, in a context where one of the objectives of marriage was often to ensure descendants, water, symbol of life and fertility, could also be seen as a favorable omen for the procreation of young spouses.
