Marriage is one of the most important events in a person’s life. After all, it is a commitment to spend a lifetime together as a couple. And so, celebrating this union, different cultures across the world have various rituals– some of which might sound quite strange and even weird to people. From the ritual of breaking dishes at the newlywed couple’s home in Germany to stealing the groom’s shoes on the day of the wedding in India, here are some strange wedding rituals from across the world that will surprise you.
1. Blackening the bride
In some parts of Scotland, the friends of the bride and groom kind of humiliate the to-be couple by showering them with messy things like soot and flour right before their wedding. The reason? Well, in their culture they believe that since marriages are hard work, if a couple can endure this and still manage to stay together then they can surely go through the hardships of life and marriage together!
2. Stealing the groom’s shoes
While most Hindu weddings are a big-fat affair, one of the fun rituals involves stealing the groom’s shoes on the wedding day. The custom involves the bride’s female cousins sneakily stealing the groom’s shoes (jootis) during the wedding ceremonies, and they return the shoes later only after negotiating a good price for them from the groom. This is a playful ritual which helps create a friendly bond between the groom and his sisters-in-law (i.e. the bride’s sisters).
Karnataka: Wedding of frogs for rains and respite from scorching heat
3. Bride kidnapping
Did you know that in Kyrgyzstan, there was once a tradition of men kidnapping a woman of their choice and forcing her to marry them? This tradition was with or without the woman’s consent, and thankfully, it is now illegal. Interestingly, in some parts of Bihar in India, there was a similar tradition wherein the woman’s side of the family would forcefully kidnap a man, whom they deemed suitable for marrying their daughter or sister. The kidnapped groom would then be forced to marry the woman. We surely do live in a strange world!
4. Smashing dishes
In Germany, a strange tradition teaches new couples about teamwork and helps them bond. As per their culture, after the wedding, the guests visit the couple’s marital home and break dishes and pottery there. They believe that this would bring the newlywed couple good luck. How? Well, after the guests leave the couple cleans the mess at home which in a way symbolises teamwork– a skill which is much needed for a marriage to work in the long-run.
5. Log cutting
Emphasising the importance of teamwork in marriage is yet another tradition which is followed in Austria wherein a newly-married couple is expected to saw a log into half. This is usually done at the wedding reception, and the idea is to help teach the couple about teamwork in marriage and overcoming challenges together.
