According to Holiday Insights, romance is really in the air in August as we celebrate Romance Awareness Month this month. We’d thought we’d really get into the act by offering you:

• According to some cultures, rain on your wedding day is considered good luck. The idea is that a wet knot is harder to untie. Other superstitions relate wedding day rain to fertility, the last tears the bride will ever shed, (wouldn’t that be nice?) and general positive stuff ahead. (The Knot)

• Knives are considered bad luck to give as wedding gifts. But you apparently can circumvent the negative vibes by asking the recipient to give you a penny so that the knives will seem to be “purchased.”
• Between 2008 and 2016, the median age for first marriage rose about two years to 28 for women, 30 for men. (U.S. Census Bureau)

• A more equal division of responsibility counts when it comes to peace on the home front. More than half of Americans surveyed said that sharing household chores was important to maintaining a successful marriage. (Pew Research)

• Ancient civilizations thought a veil would protect the bride from nasty evil spirits. According to present-day historian Susan Waggoner, the veil represented the “delivery of a modest and untouched maiden.” The tradition of wearing veils continues today although only as a beautiful accessory. (Brides)

• Engagement rings may have originated in Rome as a sign of ownership. Diamonds became even more popular as engagement rings in 1947 when the advertising slogan “A Diamond is Forever” was penned by De Beers copywriter Frances Gerety. (De Beers)

• The most popular month for getting engaged is December, while the summer months lead for wedding ceremonies, followed by autumn. (Glamour)

• Bridesmaids originally wore dresses that were similar to the bride’s to keep evil spirits from knowing who was the real woman getting married. Eenie meenie miney mo? (Southern Living)

• The tradition of wedding cake toppers may have originated with Queen Victoria. She commemorated her wedding to her beloved Prince Albert in 1840 by commissioning mini sculptures of the couple to adorn the wedding cake. (Martha Stewart)

• 61% of guys discuss engagement rings with their girlfriends before actually buying the ring. (Brides)

Stop in and visit us at David Craig Jewelers for one of the area’s finest selections of engagement and wedding rings. While you’re here, how about a stunning pair of earrings, a bracelet or necklace for your romantic partner? Commemorate his or her next birthday, anniversary or other occasion more romantically with precious metals and gemstones.