Odd History: Wedding Traditions
As we roll along through summer, virtually all of us will be attending a wedding ceremony at least once this year. We all are familiar with the various traditions that we as Americans go through when it comes to weddings: white dress for the bride, flower girls, ring bearers, throwing rice, the bride and groom feeding each other cake, etc. I was curious to learn about the origins of some of these traditions and figured I could share what I learned with the customers of PrintMyRibbon and WeddingTray, but it occurred to me that there are more than enough sites that cover this topic. So instead, I thought I’d share other wedding traditions from across the world that you might not be as familiar with!
In Scotland, just before her wedding, a bride is taken by surprise and covered with strange substances like eggs, sauces, feathers, and more. This event is called “blackening.” Officially blackened, the woman is then paraded around town for all to see.
In Germany, log sawing is a tradition for the bride and groom to engage in. We’re not talking about sleeping, either. The new couple will literally saw a log in half. Supposedly, this will be a sign of how well they handle things together once married.
In India, the bride goes through a tradition known as “mehndi.” This is the practice of painting intricate patterns on the bride’s hands and feet. The idea is to make the woman about to be married feel like a princess as she prepares to start her new life.
Another unique one from India involves a custom in which everyone at the wedding is either out to steal the groom’s shoes, or to protect them. During the ceremony, the groom has to remove his shoes before stepping up to the altar. The bride’s family has to try to steal the grooms’ shoes. The groom’s family on the other hand, must protect those shoes at all costs. If the bride’s family manages to pull off stealing the shoes, the groom must pay whatever amount of money they request to get the shoes back.
Finally, in Sweden, guests might get the chance to kiss the bride or groom. If the bride needs to use the restroom, all of the women at the reception line up to kiss the groom. If the groom exits the room and is out of sight, then all of the men at the reception line up to kiss the bride!
I wonder what would happen here in the States if we tried to implement some of these traditions from across the world? Let me know if you try any of them. In the meantime I’ll be doing the YMCA.
