I have been enjoying reading Doreen’s blog about her up and coming wedding, and I happened to come across this article on some very strange wedding traditions. I thought it’s lucky Doreen doesn’t have to worry about these!
Crying Ritual of the Tujia People | China
The Tujia people of China prepare for a wedding 30 days before the wedding day by crying. The bride spends an hour a day crying. 10 days later, she is joined by her mother, and then ten days after that, her grandmother, and this continues until all the females in the family are crying daily for an hour. Thankfully it is not an act of sadness but this is actually meant as an expression of joy and deep love. Because the women all weep in different tones the collected noise sounds almost like a song.
Spitting on the Bride | Massai Nation, Kenya
At a wedding ceremony held by the Massai people, the bride’s head is shaved and lamb fat and oil is applied on her head. The father of the bride blesses his daughter by spitting on her head and breasts. Spitting is a symbol of disgrace usually but in Massai nation it is thought to bring good luck and fortune.
Beating the Groom’s Feet | South Korea
The ritual of “beating the groom’s feet” takes place after the wedding ceremony in South Korea. The Groom’s friends remove his shoes and tie his feet together with a rope or sash. They then lift his legs off the ground and start beating the soles of his feet with a stick or dried yellow corvina. Yellow corvina is a kind of fish! It is believed that this will make the groom stronger before the first wedding night.
The Ritual of Blackening the Bride | Scotland
Blackening of the bride is a very old Scottish tradition. It’s part of a hazing ritual that actually happens before the wedding. The bride is taken by surprise, by hands down the crummiest friends you could have, and covered from head to toe with all kinds of crap. It can be anything: spoiled milk from the back of your fridge right down to tar and feathers. The ritual of covering brides and grooms in treacle, soot and flour used to be carried out to ward off evil spirits. It still happens in some parts of Scotland.
