These Are the Luckiest Wedding Traditions from around the World

You may want to incorporate these traditions into your own big day to increase your chances of a lifetime of love and happiness—because even the most loving couple can use a little luck.

The date is the thing in China

ng the date is an important wedding ritual in China and sets the stage for everything that will follow. Pick the right date, and the marriage is bound to be successful; pick the wrong date, and the unlucky couple doesn't stand a chance. The wedding pros at Cordis, Hong Kong at Langham Place, in Hong Kong, do a lot of Chinese weddings. "When picking a wedding date, couples always consult with a Chinese monk, fortune-teller, or Chinese calendar, to ensure that the wedding falls on an auspicious date. Knowing which dates to avoid, and what seasons to stay away from, is integral to the process, which is largely determined by the bride's birthday. Having the right wedding date is believed to bring wedding luck, and aide in the success of the marriage," they say.

Everyone wants a piece in Spain

In Spain, good luck on your wedding day can spill over to your best friends. "The groom's tie is cut into pieces, and auctioned off to his friends. It brings good luck to everyone who gets a piece. At many Spanish weddings, they do the same with the bride's garter," Chertoff explains.

Getting married in Egypt leaves a mark

Egypt is the birthplace of legalizing unions, now known as marriages, between two people, but thankfully, one Egyptian wedding custom did not spread around the globe. In Egypt, brides are routinely pinched by every single female wedding guest attending the ceremony. Good times!

English brides weave a web

In England, if you have arachnophobia, you may have to choose between an unlucky marriage and the single life. Good luck here is measured in itsy bitsy you-know-whats. If you find a spider crawling somewhere on the bride's dress, the couple is sure to have good luck. This custom makes you definitely want to avoid inviting pranksters to the wedding!

Italian brides get sweet treats

Many traditional (or superstitious) Italian brides follow an ancient, pre-wedding ritual, for good wedding luck and fertility. The night before the wedding, the bride wears a green dress. She does not see her groom until the next morning, choosing instead to spend these hours with her parents, or other family members. Italian newlyweds also bestow small gifts to all of their guests, for added wedding luck. These are called confetti bomboniera, and are usually sugar-coated almonds in a little purse. Each purse contains an odd number of almonds (seven, or nine). If a purse accidentally holds an even number, the good luck becomes diminished.

Vietnamese brides see red

No white weddings here! The color red, which symbolizes good luck, is the color of choice for attire, and décor, at most Vietnamese weddings. Leaving nothing to chance, the groom's family will even travel to the bride's parental home, bearing wine, fruit, and cake, wrapped in red paper and presented on red platters.

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Clear Signs You Can Trust Your Roommate

Trust is critical for stress-free living. Here’s how to know if that virtual stranger is worthy of sharing your space.

She’s dependable

Acting responsibly, by paying bills on time for example, is a prerequisite for trust. “Dependable people are predictable,” says Ernesto Escoto, PhD, director and clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida Counseling and Wellness Center in Gainesville, Florida. That removes a layer of stress from your daily life. It’s certainly okay to miss a commitment from time to time, as long as it’s handled responsibly, like if she’s caught up in a meeting and texts to let you know that she’ll have to miss movie night tonight. Less dependable people will leave you hanging at times, causing unnecessary anxiety.

He can keep secrets

It’s pretty key for a roommate to be discrete with any personal issues or feelings you’ve shared. “Trustworthy individuals realize that you’re trusting them to not only be good listeners but also to support you during whatever circumstances you might be facing, to be validating and encouraging,” Dr. Escoto says. “Their keeping your secrets is part of taking care of you, protecting you, and valuing the trust between you.”

She keeps a channel open

Frequent and open communication facilitates understanding and creates a level of comfort—even if your roommate is complaining about your loud music or your leaving dishes in the sink. “People who bring up misunderstandings or relationship concerns in a timely manner without falling into a pattern of complaining regularly, and who do so respectfully, help direct the growth of a relationship in a positive direction,” Escoto says. A study by researchers from the University of West Virginia and the University of Akron shows that when both roommates had good interpersonal communication skills and little verbal aggressiveness, they were more likely to be satisfied with their shared living situation. These magic phrases can make anyone trust you.

He respects your boundaries

Roommates need to be conscious of your limits and your need for privacy. That means not barging into your space or using your stuff without permission, not looking over your shoulder when you’re writing emails or talking on the phone, and not automatically joining you and your company if you haven’t made it clear that they’re welcome. Use this checklist to see how body language can build trust.

She’s honest

Trust builds naturally when a person is open and truthful. “When someone consistently tells the truth, admits their mistakes, and speaks from the heart, we tend to trust them more,” said Monique Honaman, Atlanta-based author of the book, The High Road Has Less Traffic. “By following through on promises and displaying consistent behavior, they earn our trust.”

He’s eager to demonstrate his trustworthiness

A recent New York magazine article explored the benefits of being assigned a random roommate, and how this can be a great opportunity for personal growth and fulfillment. “This is a tremendous opportunity for impressionable young people,” Bruce Sacerdote, a Dartmouth economist and researcher, is quoted as saying. “And the research has shown, convincingly, that having the right sort of roommate can expand horizons and open eyes in extremely important ways.” Students should embrace the clean slate they are given to build trust. Having a positive attitude is a great place to start.

She’s flexible with scheduling

Whether you work full-time or part-time or go to school, whether you’re single or coupled up, whether you’re a night owl or a morning jay, scheduling conflicts can easily come up and get in the way of a civilized relationship. That’s why it’s critical for a roommate to be considerate with early waking times, late arrivals home, and other occasional requirements, like needing quiet to concentrate or having to accommodate overnight guests in the shared living room. “Building trust is imperative in any relationship, and the building blocks of trust are consistent,” says Honaman. “If you want to build trust with a roommate, display these behaviors, and look for the same in return from them.”

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