Unusual Wedding Customs from Around the World

In Kenya, the wedding ceremony of the Maasai people is quite peculiar yet an indispensable tradition. During the wedding, the bride must shave her head and apply cooking oil and sheep fat on it. Her father blesses her by spitting on her head and chest, wishing her wealth and good fortune in life. Afterwards, the bride leaves with her husband without looking back, fearing she may be turned to stone. This special “blessing” symbolizes the best wishes parents have for their daughters.

In Tidon, Malaysia, engaged couples are not allowed to leave their house for three days and three nights before the wedding. They are even prohibited from bathing, using the restroom, or being left hungry. Therefore, both must endure fasting to limit bowel movements. Family members will supervise the bride and groom during these 72 hours. If either of them skips this ritual, it is considered a bad omen. The locals believe that if they successfully complete this, they will have a strong and fulfilling marriage.

In Scotland, wedding customs are associated with unpleasant smells. This ancient ritual is known as “Blackening of the Bride.” Instead of receiving blessings from family and friends in a romantic atmosphere, the bride and groom are bound and doused with substances like spoiled milk, dead fish, rotten food, eggs, and duck feathers. Afterwards, the couple must march around their neighborhood without washing. However, this custom is not meant to defame the bride and groom; rather, it is seen as a form of warding off evil. The Scots believe that the dirt poured on the newlyweds serves as a reminder of the challenges ahead.

According to the customs of the Tujia people (China), the bride must cry during the wedding to express her filial piety, gratitude, and virtue. Additionally, crying is seen as a blessing for the couple’s married life. The more sorrowful the cries, the happier the marriage is believed to be. This ritual dates back to the Warring States period (475-221 BC) and continues to this day. A month before the wedding, the bride must practice crying daily. For the first ten days, she will practice a single cry. After ten days, her mother joins in, and the next ten days include her grandmother. Anyone who does not cry or cries too little is scolded and criticized.

In India, Hindu brides wear their wedding ring on their toe instead of the ring finger like in other places. This ring is made of silver, and the groom personally places it on the bride’s left foot. Couples must avoid gold rings, as gold symbolizes the goddess Lakshmi. Wearing gold on the toe is considered disrespectful to the goddess.

In Sweden, during the wedding, the groom must temporarily hide while unmarried young men kiss the bride. This is similarly applied to the groom, who is kissed by single women. This ceremony takes place with the consent of the couple and their guests. Additionally, Swedes have a custom of placing coins in the bride’s shoes. The father places a silver coin in the bride’s left shoe, while the mother places a gold coin in her right shoe.

To ward off evil spirits, brides and grooms in Germany often hold a “Breaking Night” (Polterabend) with their guests on the night before the wedding. The items used to break are ceramics like plates, but glass cups or mugs should not be broken. Afterwards, both will clean up and wash the broken dishes together. This custom, although peculiar, is one of the most anticipated rituals in German weddings. Germans believe this will help the couple welcome a prosperous new life and bring them good luck.

At weddings in Australia, guests must hold a small stone tightly throughout the ceremony. Once the wedding concludes, they will drop their stones into a beautiful object prepared by the bride and groom. This ritual is called the “Unity Bowl.” Afterwards, the couple takes all the stones home and keeps them carefully. This is seen as a symbol of love and encouragement from friends and family for the newlyweds.

According to an ancient custom in Italy, wedding guests participate in tearing the bride’s dress to receive good fortune. Nowadays, this ritual has been modified to be more appropriate and polite; instead of tearing the dress, guests will rip the bride’s veil. Additionally, the couple will also break a vase or bottle of wine and count the shards. Italians believe that the more pieces there are, the more happiness will be filled.

In France, the ring used for the proposal is a family heirloom passed down from the groom’s parents. Once the proposal is accepted, if the groom’s parents agree, the bride and groom can decide if they want to alter the shape or size of the ring. If only the stone is gifted by the parents, they can choose to design the ring according to their preference.

The United Arab Emirates: In this country, marriage traditions are considered quite strict, with a series of protocols and rules that must be followed. Accordingly, if a groom wants to marry, he must express his feelings and intentions to his mother, who will then meet the bride’s mother to propose to their daughter.

In Japan, the engagement ceremony of the bride and groom is called “yuino”, featuring a meeting between both families. During this gathering, they exchange nine beautifully wrapped gifts that symbolize their feelings and good intentions for their future marriage.

The tradition of Ireland revolves around a ring known as Claddagh, which features a heart crowned and held by two hands. This is a piece of jewelry rich in symbolism of love.

In Fiji, there is a special tradition that most of us are unaware of. The groom and his family bring a special gift to the bride’s family. This gift is a whale tooth, which is presented to seek permission from the bride’s parents to hold the wedding. This custom is quite popular in rural areas of Fiji, though some families in urban areas still adhere to this tradition.