throwing the stocking

yarb commented on the word throwing the stocking

"Thus rescued, as it were, from a state of annihilation, the first use the two lads of the castle made of their existence, was to ply the bridegroom so hard with bumpers, that in less than an hour he made divers efforts to sing, and soon after was carried to bed, deprived of all manner of sensation, to the utter disappointment of the bridemen and maids, who, by this accident, were prevented from throwing the stocking, and performing certain other ceremonies practised on such occasions."

— Smollett, Peregrine Pickle

January 12, 2022

yarb commented on the word throwing the stocking

"'Toss the stocking' was held within the chamber by invading groomsmen who would steal the bride’s stocking and take it in turns to throw the stocking over the heads of the newlyweds from a sitting position at the end of the matrimonial bed. The notion was that if the stocking landing on the groom’s head the thrower would be next to marry."

— weddingchaos.co.uk

January 12, 2022