25 Extremely Strange and Crazy Wedding Traditions Around the World
Every human society celebrates marriage, and almost every one has a tradition that looks baffling from the outside. Here are 25 of the strangest, from Scotland to China. Note that many are regional or family customs rather than something every couple does.
1Blackening the bride, Scotland
In parts of north-east Scotland, friends ambush the bride or groom before the wedding and cover them in treacle, flour, feathers and worse, then parade them around town. The idea is that if you can survive this, you can survive marriage.
2The crying ceremony, China
Among the Tujia people of south-west China, brides traditionally began crying for an hour a day in the weeks before the wedding, joined by their mother and grandmother, as a joyful expression of love.
3Marrying a tree, India
In some Hindu families, a person born under an astrologically unlucky alignment may first be "married" to a tree to absorb the bad luck before the real wedding.
4Beating the groom's feet, South Korea
In a traditional custom, the groom's friends tie his ankles and strike the soles of his feet with a stick or dried fish while quizzing him, supposedly to test his strength and character.
5The chicken liver test, Inner Mongolia
Among the Daur people, an engaged couple traditionally cut open a chicken together and inspect its liver. A healthy liver means they can set the date; if not, they try another chicken.
6No bathroom for three days, Borneo
Among the Tidong community, newlyweds are reportedly expected not to use the toilet for three days after the wedding, watched over by family, to ensure a happy marriage.
7Stealing the groom's shoes, India
In the joota chupai game, the bride's sisters steal the groom's shoes during the ceremony and hold them to ransom, haggling for cash before he can leave.
8The bride ransom, Russia
Before the ceremony the groom must "buy" his bride from her friends and family by solving riddles, completing silly tasks and handing over money or gifts.
9La soupe, France
An old rural custom: after the reception, guests serve the newlyweds a mix of leftover food and drink, sometimes in a chamber pot, to give them strength for the night. Today it is usually chocolate and champagne in a clean bowl.
10The kissing tradition, Sweden
If the bride leaves the table, every woman in the room may kiss the groom; if the groom leaves, the men may kiss the bride.
11A spitting blessing, Kenya
In some Maasai weddings, the bride's father gives his blessing by spitting on her head and chest as she leaves with her new husband.
12Kidnapping the bride, Romania
Friends playfully "kidnap" the bride during the reception, and the groom must pay a ransom of drinks, a song or a romantic declaration to get her back.
13Arrows at the bride, China
Among the Yugur people, the groom shoots arrows without heads at his bride, then breaks them, a promise of lasting love.
14Smashing dishes, Germany
At the Polterabend, a party before the wedding, guests smash porcelain and the couple sweep it up together, practising teamwork for the years ahead.
15Releasing doves, Philippines
A pair of white doves, symbols of harmony, are released together by the newlyweds.
16Confetti, Italy
In Italy, confetti are not paper but sugar-coated almonds, given to guests in little bags, usually in odd numbers for luck.
17San-san-kudo, Japan
In a Shinto ceremony the couple take turns sipping sake from three cups of increasing size, three sips each.
18Sawing a log, Germany
Outside the church, bride and groom saw through a log with a two-handled saw, showing they can work together.
19Kransekake, Norway
A tower of almond-cake rings, stacked high and often decorated with flags, replaces the usual wedding cake.
20Wooden ducks, Korea
Wooden wild geese or mandarin ducks, which mate for life, are given to the couple as a symbol of faithfulness.
21The money dance, Poland and beyond
Guests pay for a dance with the bride or groom by pinning money on them or dropping it in an apron. Versions of the money dance exist from Nigeria to the Philippines.
22Carrying fire, South Africa
In some families, the mothers of the bride and groom carry fire from their own hearths to light a new fire in the couple's home.
23Marrying a frog for rain, India
Not a human wedding at all: in parts of India, villagers hold a full ceremony to marry two frogs, hoping to bring the monsoon rains. (We love frogs too; see our bizarre frogs list.)
24Lucky numbers and red envelopes, China
Couples choose a date with lucky numbers, guests give money in red envelopes, and amounts with an 8 are prized because the word sounds like "prosper", while 4 is avoided because it sounds like "death".
25Jumping the broom
A custom with roots in African American history and in Britain, in which the couple jump over a broom together to mark the start of their new household.
Las Vegas: where the wedding meets the roulette table
Strange traditions are not only ancient. The world's most famous modern wedding custom might be flying to Las Vegas and getting married the same day. Nevada's quick licences made the city a wedding capital decades ago, and today Clark County issues tens of thousands of marriage licences every year. You can marry in a tiny chapel on the Strip, in front of an Elvis impersonator, in a gondola, by a drive-through window or in a casino ballroom, then head straight to the tables for luck.
Lucky numbers matter there too. Some casino resorts in Las Vegas and Macau skip the fourth floor or avoid the number 4 for their Asian guests, and 8 is a favourite for room numbers, opening dates and table limits. Wedding dates with repeating numbers, like 7/7/07 or 12/12/12, caused famous rushes at Vegas chapels. Find out whether any of it actually changes your luck in The Science of Luck: 7 Probability Myths Busted, and see what else Vegas offers in 7 Casino Cities to See Before You Die.
