When it comes to gemstone superstitions, one that stands out is pearls are bad luck. If you’re getting married, you’ve probably already heard this from somewhere, especially if you’re thinking about wearing pearls on your big day.
Whether you’re superstitious or not, this might be something you’re thinking about because:
- You don’t want a wedding guest to point out that pearls are bad luck.
- Why tempt fate?
So should you find some other type of jewelry or are you safe with pearls? Let’s take a look.
Negative Pearl Symbolism
Let’s not forget that pearls are one of the oldest gemstones there is, and beautiful as they are, pearls have some negative associations which have accumulated over the centuries.
Pearls Symbolize Tears
There are a few different legends that might have given rise to this conception of pearls. One myth states that Adam and Eve cried bitter tears as they were cast out of heaven. These tears then turned into a lake of pearls. Adam’s tears were black while Eve’s tears were white, and because women cry more than men (supposedly), there are more white pearls than there are black. The ancient Greeks believed that pearls were the tears of the gods.
Never Gift Pearls
Because of this association with tears, it’s believed that gifting someone pearls is akin to giving them tears and sadness. Receiving pearls is also viewed as extreme bad luck. The only way to circumvent this bad luck is to purchase the pearls yourself.
This means that if someone gives you pearls, the only way to get rid of the bad luck that accompanies them is if you pay the person for the pearls. Apparently, money can cancel the bad luck that comes with the stones.
Wearing Pearls on Your Wedding Day
It’s also said that you should never wear pearls on your wedding day because this symbolizes sorrow and tears and will usher in bad luck in the future. Wearing pearls will lead to trouble and sadness between the couple and deterioration in your relationship.
Positive Pearl Symbolism
Regardless of all the bad luck associated with pearls, there’s also lots of positive connotations. Brides have been wearing pearl jewelry for centuries and many see pearls as the quintessential gemstone for wedding days.
Here’s why:
- Some believe that wearing pearls on a wedding day is symbolic of the tears that the bride will shed. Because the pearls represent her tears, this means that the bride’s life itself will be free of tears and she will have a happy, sorrow free marriage. In this way, pearls are seen as the absorber of bad luck that can come in a marriage.
- In Chinese culture, pearls are viewed as symbolic of wisdom. They believe that pearls came from the heads of dragons and were very rare. To gift pearls is similar to wishing one wisdom and knowledge.
- Throughout Western culture, pearls were viewed as symbols of protection, keeping the wearer safe from evil.
Today, pearl jewelry typically represents purity, innocence and loyalty. The color white has always had associations with innocence and purity. To wear pearl jewelry on your wedding day is highly symbolic in this aspect and makes for a meaningful jewelry choice.
So Should I Avoid Pearls?
There are many superstitions surrounding weddings, such as the belief that marrying on a Saturday is unlucky. And yet, this tends to be the most popular day for weddings.
It would be ridiculous to say that a couple are having problems because the bride chose to wear pearl jewelry at the wedding four years ago. Each year, thousands of brides choose to wear pearl jewelry on their wedding day. That alone speaks to the point that the belief that pearls are bad luck holds no water these days.
The point is, you can choose what you want your jewelry to mean. For every negative belief, you can find several positive views and just because someone says pearls are bad luck doesn’t mean it’s true.
So, if you want to change your chosen pearl jewelry because someone told you its bad luck and you’re feeling superstitious, it’s up to you. After all, you should feel happy and comfortable in what you’re wearing on your big day.
However, we believe that pearls are gorgeous, meaningful and ideal for weddings. And this is a view that many have held throughout history.
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