khitajrah Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I seem to recall reading somewhere in the past that weddings were traditionally held in the winter months here in Shetland. Is this true or have I completely made this up? I tried checking Shetlopedia but it seems to be down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clanchief Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I did a random check on the Bayanne Shetland Family History site, using a common Shetland name "John Johnson" and the 6 random "Johnsons" that I looked at were all married in the winter months in the late 19th century! Not vey scientific research, but interesting! khitajrah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 Dunno if it was "traditional" or simply a case of realities and convenience. Croft work kept folk fully occupied during the other three seasons, and many of the male population were at sea either at the fishing or as crew on ocean going vessels during those times of year as well. Winter was when most folk were home and could find the time to organise and attend such things, and there was likely to be slightly more ready cash available to pay for things, croft animals having been sold at autumn sales and those at sea having received their pay for the season or voyage. khitajrah 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmie Posted January 20, 2014 Report Share Posted January 20, 2014 I have heard a lot of weddings in the Western Isles took place in the Christmas holidays when everyone was home/off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohanofNess Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Yeah mind my uncle saying to me that folk don't get married during lambing when we asked if he was coming to the wedding. Well they do if they can't get time off the rest of the year and they aren't involved in farming but my mum said the same that generally folk didn't get married in the spring because of work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogling Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 I read somewhere a while back, that the most popular day of the week to get married on was a Wednesday.This is why shops closed on Wednesday afternoons - so folk could go to the wedding,then they all went back to work on the Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 I suspect it was the other way about. Shops were legally obliged to close early one day a week by the Shops Act 1911. Incidentally Thursday used to be a popular day for weddings. I recall weddings being held on a Thursday in Delting up to the 1970's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heimdal Posted January 23, 2014 Report Share Posted January 23, 2014 Yes, Thursday was the traditional day for weddings in Shetland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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