Every culture has its own Wedding Traditions. Even non-traditional couples now follow American wedding customs, like the bride tossing the bouquet and the husband wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Weddings are celebrated in a variety of distinctive ways around the world.
Guests in Sweden traditionally greet the newlyweds with a kiss on the cheek as they leave the reception. Some are strange, like the fact that couples in the Congo can’t smile on their wedding day. Before they can get married, engaged couples in Mongolia have to kill and cut up a chicken in order to get a good liver. But love is the one thing that ties together these different practices from near and far.
According to this idea, if you stick to these customs, you’ll meet your true love and be happy for the rest of your life. If it means some Hindu women have to wed a tree or some South Korean grooms have to suffer the beating feet of their families and friends, then be it. In this article we discuss some unique Wedding Traditions around the world.
China: The Crying Ritual
Even though it’s normal for people to cry at weddings all over the world, in some parts of China the bride has to practice sobbing. Tujia women have to cry every day for an hour a month before their wedding. Her mother joins her 10 days before the wedding, followed ten days later by the bride’s grandmother. In western Sichuan, the ceremony is known as Zuo Tang, and it dates back to the era of China’s Warring States, when the mother of a Zhao princess sobbed during her wedding.
Korea: The Gift of a Goose
Korean brides and grooms exchange wooden geese and ducks as a sign of their love for each other on their wedding day. Wild geese or ducks are often given as gifts by the groom to the woman who will soon become his wife. The animals that only mate with one person show that the groom is sincere and loyal to his wife.
South Korea: The Beat of Love
Some regions of South Korea prohibit grooms from leaving with their brides until their feet have been beaten. After the ceremony, the groom’s family and friends remove his shoes and tie his ankles with rope. Each person then strikes his foot with a stick or, on sometimes, a dried fish. Many see the brief ceremony as a comical mental and physical strength test for the groom.
India: The Groom’s Stolen Shoes
In a traditional Hindu wedding, the groom always takes off his shoes before sitting down for the pheras. This is when the Joota Chupai tradition happens. Tradition says that the bride’s bridesmaids and relatives will take the groom’s shoes and hide them as a joke. The bridegroom must pay the ladies with money to return his shoes before the ceremony concludes.
Armenia: Balancing Bread
Do you want to protect your wedding from any evil spirits? Should be shouldering the load of lavash, the flatbread. This is a common practise among newlywed Armenian couples. The bride and groom usually shatter a dish for good luck upon entering the groom’s home, where the reception will be held, and the groom’s mother will present them with lavash and honey as a gift. The festivities begin after everyone has balanced loaves of bread on their shoulders to ward off evil and eaten spoonfuls of honey to represent joy.
Congo: No Smiling Allowed at Weddings
While the majority of engaged couples are excited and planning the future, Congolese couples must contain their joy. On their wedding day, neither of them can smile at any point, from the ceremony to the reception. If they do so, it would indicate that they are not committed to getting married.
Germany: From Chainsaws to Marriage Vows
In Germany, newlyweds are supposed to cut a piece of wood in half as part of a ceremony called Baumstamm Sagen. Baumstamm Sagen is a work by two people, but it shows how strong the couple is as they work through problems in their marriage.
Lebanon: Music and Dancing in Lebanese Culture
In Lebanon, the Zaffe starts with music, belly dancing, and yelling at the residences of the groom and bride, courtesy of the couple’s friends, relatives, and sometimes professional dancers and musicians. All the guests eventually make it to the bride’s house, where they are showered with blessings and flower petals before the ceremony.
Romania: Kidnapping the Bride
In Romania, if the bride doesn’t show up to the wedding, it doesn’t mean she has cold feet. On the other hand, it is common for the bride’s friends and family to “kidnap” her before the wedding. In a way that is similar to role-play, the husband must pay a ransom to get the bride back. This could be romantic things like filling her champagne glass.
Fiji: The Unique Proposal Ritual
In Fiji, the groom and his family often deliver a sperm whale’s tooth to the bride’s father when he requests permission. While more prevalent in rural regions, this practice is widespread across Fiji. In Fijian, the tooth is called a tabua, which means “holy.”
Even though we only understand a few of these strange traditions, they have made us laugh and fall in love with weddings all over again.
Japan: Drinking in Sync
In Japan, an old tradition called san-san-kudo says that the family has to drink together at a wedding, which may seem strange. Once the bride and groom have each had three drinks from three flat sake cups, their parents do the same. This brings the families together.
Mexico: El lazo
Now that we’re in Mexico, it’s time to learn about another interesting wedding tradition from another country. El lazo, or the wedding lasso, is a traditional part of a Mexican wedding that stands for love and union that will last forever.
As the priest blesses the bride and groom after the wedding vows, he places a lasso—typically fashioned from a garland of flowers or a strand of rosary beads—over their shoulders. Then the bride and groom may share their first kiss as husband and wife, and the celebration can really begin! Mexican wedding rituals have deep roots in Catholicism, despite the Bible’s teaching that the number eight symbolises fresh beginnings. The lasso is traditionally given to the priest by the bride and groom at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Cuba: The Dancing Bride
Here’s another one of our favourite wedding customs from throughout the world. The bride traditionally dances with the guests during the reception. Yet, in Cuba, the bride is expected to foot the bill for the ceremony. Every male dancing partner of the bride is often asked to pin money to her attire. This gift will go towards the couple’s wedding and honeymoon expenses.
Spain: Bride in Black
A mantilla, or head-and-shoulder veil, was worn by the bride as a symbol of her devotion to her spouse and was worn by all brides in Spain. Till death do us part is a phrase you are familiar with. This peculiar yet significant custom at Spanish weddings serves as a warning. The widespread use of the veil may be traced back to the superstitious belief that a bride who is too attractive would bring evil luck.
Now, a bride may show off her sophistication, power, sensuality, mystery, and introspection by choosing to wed in a black dress. By continuing this Spanish wedding custom, you will be setting yourself apart from the crowd and sending a powerful message of devotion to your partner. This is a lovely and special custom for weddings. The bride is free to wear and do as she pleases when it comes to wedding attire and preparations.
Peru: Love in the Cake
This Peruvian wedding tradition is fun for single women. The same as the wedding traditions of throwing the bouquet around the world. A classic Peruvian wedding cake has ribbons around the borders. Each ribbon is tied to a charm on the inside of the cake, except for one that is tied to a fake wedding ring. Peruvians think you’re about to get married if they give you the piece of cake with the wedding ring in it.
Morocco: A Week-Long Celebration
Moroccans are party animals! Wedding celebrations can last up to a week if there are pre-wedding ceremonies, rituals for getting ready, and a huge meal on the wedding day. Moroccan weddings are a beautiful event, and a traditional wedding will have many outfit changes, nonstop dancing between the bride and groom, festivals, bursts of color, and lots of music.
A Hammam day is often included within the wedding week since it represents a fresh beginning for the bride. The future bride and her female relatives and friends would visit a traditional sauna known as a Hamman for the ritual purification.
Next, as during Indian nuptials, she’ll throw a henna party at which the bride and her guests will receive henna tattoos on their hands and feet. In addition, there are the celebrations that take place before, during, and after the nuptials.
Sweden: Flower Crowns for the Bride and Groom
In Sweden, the bride almost never wears a veil or tiara. Instead, she chooses to wear a beautiful flower crown. Like many other wedding traditions around the world, the flower crown has a lot of meaning. It usually has a myrtle sprig in it to show love. Flower crowns are now a popular way to decorate the hair of brides all over the world.
About Author: The content is written by Shagufta. She has been writing informative article for the past six years.
