Genealogy Chat

why getting married on Christmas Day was so popular?

Thanks

Sue

Just guessing here.
All the family would be together and it saved putting out on two meals.

Marion...thrifty Scot lol

It was the only 'day off' for some labourers!

Christine

Aaah thanks...

This was in 1923....I expect it was something to do with saving money..lol and the FIL was a labourer but I'll opt for them being tight!

Sue x

I suppose travelling would be a reason too.

Marion

This is aged BIL's mother and father I offered to do his tree whilst I am waiting for some certs for mine.

He was here for 4 days and I started searching came across some odd names. Spent hours double checking names, then asked BIL if he recognised them answer "Oh yes, they were the second marriage lot" or "I knew that"

Yes he did get out of here alive......................just!

x

I believe there was no charge for the wedding on Xmas day.

My parents married on Christmas Day.I really cannot remember if I know the reason but they married in a Presbyterian church.
I have a vague recollection my parents saying that CofE did not have marriages that day.Maybe it was just our parish church.

oh dear lol.

It is my understanding that the service was conducted without charge on Christmas Day.

Victoria

Thanks for starting this thread - was just about to ask myself. Most of the marriage certificates I have received recently have been christmas day weddings.

Thanks for replies :-))

I guess it is down to money then. It was a C of E church wedding in Stepney. I would imagine the vicar would have been rattling his way through as many as possible on that day!

Sue

My Mum & Dad married Xmas day 1929.that was the only day when all the relatives would have a day off. Both Mum & dad worked Mon - Sat .
Also the Church would be decorated and heated so wasnt down to them & I believe was a smaller charge for that day.

Most of their guests walked to the Church only Mum & her father had a carriage to the church. The carriage did two trips firstly with their 10 bridesmaids & two pages then with Mum & her father. Remember Mum saying it was a squeeze getting all the bridesmaids in but as most were little they doubled up. Mum wasnt that happy as she was worried their dresses would get creased, We were lucky that Mum used to tell us loads from her younger days!

There is something troubling me.
The suggestion is that Christmas Day marriages were popular.
I looked at the marriages for South Stoneham 1904
1st qr 183
2nd qr 285
3rd qr 335
4th qtr 314
I would have expected the last quarter to be far greater.

Perhaps not in Scotland. Christmas Day was not a (public) holiday until about 60 years ago.

Alistair

I have a couple in my tree who married Christmas Day 1856 in a registry office. I'd love to know the explanation for that one.

We mustn't forget that 100+ years ago marriage for the majority of the population was not a huge do.

In fact having said that a friend of mine's parents went off to the registry office, got married then went back to their respective jobs then home to their parents on different buses.
I think they were married for a couple of months before they managed to get a place together.Still they were married for more than 40 years so it must've been love.

I have loads of Christmas Day marriages, often wondered why.

Sue, know the feeling. I've been doing the family tree for my cousin who told me she knew nothing about them. Done loads of research and everything I turn up she says "Yeah, I knew that"!!!!!

Why didn't she save me the effort?

Margaret.

lol Margaret not amusing is it?

I phoned him today with a couple of names and straight off he said he knew them both and proceeded to give me the history.

Sue x

Hi Jim,

A friend of mine married in winter. The groom, best man and entourage wore kilts and there was plenty of comment about the temperature that day! I know Lent keeps marriages low in the first qtr, but I wonder if Oct-Dec might have been a similarly low figure were it not for the Chrsitmas Day effect?