Buzz
A wedding is a cherished occasion that symbolizes the bond between two individuals beginning their shared journey through life. Every culture offers its own unique customs and practices for marriage, often influenced by religious beliefs and sometimes by superstitions.
Some of these rituals are more widely recognized than others. Here’s a list of 10 intriguing wedding traditions from different parts of the world, each with its own distinct charm.
10. France
In France, when couples, particularly young ones, got married, friends and family would gather outside the couple's home, making noise by banging pots and pans while shouting and singing. The newlyweds were expected to come out and offer drinks and snacks, and in some cases, even money to encourage the visitors to leave.
In more extreme situations, if the newlyweds didn't respond, the visitors might break into the house, kidnap the groom, and take him to a distant location. The groom would then have to make his way home, often without his clothes.
This playful tradition, known as charivari (or shivaree), dates back to the Middle Ages. It was originally practiced when widows were thought to remarry too quickly, and neighbors would disrupt the wedding night as a form of protest. However, it was all in good fun.
9. Mauritania
In Mauritania, the larger a girl is, the more attractive she is considered. As a result, parents often send their daughters, some as young as five, to special 'fat camps' during the summer to help them gain weight. This tradition, known as Leblouh, requires the girls to consume an extraordinary amount of food, with some even being force-fed.
It is believed that these girls can consume up to 16,000 calories a day. This practice stems from the idea that a woman’s size reflects the space she occupies in her husband’s heart, as well as his wealth. The wealthier the husband, the larger the wife he can afford.
When the time comes, a man and his family would select a bride and come to an agreement with her family. The bigger the girl, the more desirable she becomes.
8. Scotland
The Blackening, a unique Scottish wedding tradition, takes place before the ceremony and is meant to symbolize the challenges of marriage. The bride, groom, or both are drenched in unpleasant substances—such as eggs, dead fish, spoiled food, curdled milk, tar, mud, or flour—by their friends and family.
Following this, they are either tied to a tree or paraded through town in the back of an open truck. The goal is to make them as uncomfortable as possible, while ensuring that as many people as possible witness the event.
The belief behind this tradition is that after enduring such an experience together, the couple will be able to face any of the difficulties marriage may bring. The Blackening is most commonly practiced in the rural regions of northeast Scotland.
7. China
Among the Tujia people of China, there is a tradition where every bride must cry at her wedding. Elders believe this act symbolizes the bride's gratitude and love toward her parents and other family members. If the bride doesn't cry, the guests may view her as poorly cultivated.
The bride begins practicing her crying a month before the wedding. Each night, she spends an hour crying loudly. After 10 days, the bride’s mother joins in the practice, followed by the bride’s grandmother and other female relatives. The tears are meant to express joy and hope, not sadness. This tradition is not as common nowadays.
6. Borneo
Despite many wedding traditions followed by the Tidong people of Borneo, one of the strangest is that the newlyweds are forbidden from using the bathroom for three days after the wedding. This means the bride and groom must hold their pee and poop for three consecutive days.
If the newlyweds use the bathroom during this period, it is believed to bring terrible luck to the marriage. This could result in infidelity or even the premature death of their children.
During these three days, the couple is closely monitored by others who provide them with only minimal food and drink. Once the period ends, the newlyweds are bathed and allowed to return to normal life.
5. China/Mongolia
The Daur people from China and parts of Inner Mongolia have a distinctive way of selecting a wedding date. The engaged couple holds a single knife to kill a baby chick, then examines its organs to determine the auspicious date for their wedding.
If the liver is healthy, the couple can proceed with setting a date and making wedding plans. However, if the liver is found to be diseased, it is seen as bad luck. The couple must repeat the process until they find a chick with a healthy liver.
4. India
In certain regions of India, astrological compatibility is crucial when it comes to marriage and wedding ceremonies. If the bride is born under the influence of “Mars,” she is considered cursed and believed to bring an early death to her husband.
To break this curse, the bride must first marry a banana tree. The tree is then destroyed, lifting the curse. Although this practice has been made illegal due to concerns over women’s rights, it is still practiced by some, including Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai.
3. India
An intriguing wedding tradition is followed by the Tamil Brahmins in southern India. In one of their rituals, the groom pretends to have second thoughts about the marriage and leaves to become a priest. His family then persuades him to reconsider and return to the wedding.
The priest who will officiate the wedding also participates in attempting to “change the groom’s mind.” After this, the groom finally returns to the marriage hall, where the bride’s family greets him, and the other wedding festivities begin.
2. Maasai
Maasai weddings are rich in customs, with some of the most unusual practices involving spitting. Once both families agree to the marriage, a wedding date is chosen. On the designated day, an elder spits milk in front of the bride's home, signaling the start of the wedding procession.
The bride wears a vibrant, striking outfit adorned with necklaces made from shells and beads. Her head is shaved and then coated with lamb fat. Her father then spits on her head and chest. This act is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to her married life.
1. Wales
Dating back to the 17th century, the Welsh have a distinctive tradition of courtship. A young man would carve a single piece of wood into an ornate spoon, which he would then give to the woman he was courting as a symbol of love and intent.
If accepted, the spoon became symbolic of an engagement between the couple. This love spoon also acted as a vow that the groom would always ensure the bride would never face hunger.
In modern times, love spoons are available for purchase. They are also given as gifts for various special occasions, such as christenings and birthdays. This tradition has spread to other parts of Europe as well.
+ Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia
The people of the Marquesas Islands have a distinctive wedding ritual. After the ceremony, the bride's relatives lie down face-first on the floor next to each other. The newlyweds then walk over them, stepping over them as if they were part of the floor covering.
