Bizarre Wedding Traditions From Around The World

Weddings are joyous occasions where two families are brought together through the matrimony of one happy couple.

Different cultures have their own unique traditions which all celebrate the love shared between a happy couple. In many societies, these traditions are legacies that have been sustained for thousands of years and are still going strong today.

While most of us are more familiar with the throwing of the bouquet, first dance and showering the newlyweds in confetti traditions, here are ten unique rituals from different countries across the world:

1. Pucker up in Sweden

Most of us are already well accustomed to the traditional wedding quote: "You may now kiss the bride", but in Sweden, this line isn't just directed towards the groom.

It is a tradition for guests at Swedish weddings to get a kiss from the bride anytime the groom leaves the room and vice versa. If one of them gets up to go to the toilet, guests are warmly invited to get up and form a queue to plant a kiss on the bride or groom's cheek before their other half returns to the room.

2. No Bathroom Breaks in Borneo

Following a wedding of two members of Borneo's Tidong community, the newlyweds are locked in their home for three whole days.

Under the watchful eye of friends and relatives, they are not allowed to leave the house for any reason, and they are even banned from using the bathroom during this time.

It was believed that if couples didn't partake in this wedding tradition, their marriage would be cursed and it would result in adultery, death of a child, or divorce.

By showing commitment and resilience to this long-standing superstition, it is believed the newlyweds will be rewarded with a happy, turbulence-free marriage.

3. A Close Shave in Greece

A well-established wedding tradition in Greece is for the best man to shave the groom on the morning of his wedding.

This act of trust, known as 'the last shave' solidifies the bond between two best friends as one of them takes the big steps towards his new life as a husband.

Once he is clean-shaven, more close friends will help him get dressed in to his wedding suit.

These traditions are all symbolic deeds that will help the groom to prepare for married life with his new wife.

4. Getting Dirty in Scotland

If you find yourself about to marry a Scottish person, be aware things could get messy before the marriage certificate is even signed.

There is a mucky tradition that usually takes place a few weeks before the big day, and it isn't exactly for the faint-hearted. Friends and family members' kidnap' the bride or groom, strip them to the waist and douse them in treacle, soot, flour and feathers.

As if that wasn't humiliating enough, they are then marched around the town to embarrass them infant of as many onlookers as possible.

The bride and groom are at the mercy of their friends with this hardcore tradition, so they can only hope they'll have enough time to remove all the treacle from their hair before the big day!

5. All Tied up in Mexico

Mexican weddings give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'tying the knot' with the tradition of 'El Lazo' (lasso).

The lasso is a large loop made from rosary beads, flowers and string, and it is tied around the bride and groom's shoulders after they have said their vows to one another. The intertwining of their bodies is a symbol of the couple's infinite love that they are bound by physically and mentally.

After the wedding, the bride can keep the lasso as a memento from her big day.

6. Spitting in Kenya

In most cultures, spitting is a sign of terrible manners and a complete lack of respect for the person on the receiving end of your saliva missile.

It is a pretty disgusting habit, and it's extremely frowned upon if you were to spit at someone else or out in public.

The Massai tribespeople in Kenya, however, have a different outlook when it comes to hawking slobber at one another. Before a father gives his daughter away on her wedding day, he will spit on her head and chest for good luck.

While some cultures may find this a strange tradition, the Massai people believe it will bring fortune and success to the happy couple's marriage.

7. Everyone's Invited in Nigeria

In most cultures, a well thought out guest list is imperative to make sure the wedding day runs as smoothly as possible.

Keeping the number of guests to a manageable and affordable size ensures budgets are kept to and costs don't get out of hand.

Nigeria, on the other hand, takes a different approach by opting out of a guest list altogether, instead they open the invitations out to, quite literally, everyone. It is possible for hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of guests to turn up on a couple's big day.

Nigerian weddings are as much about the union of the two families as it is about the happy couple, so it's important to involve as many people as possible so they can celebrate the matrimony in style.

8. Shooting the Bride in China

The Yugur ethnic group of China have an extraordinary tradition where the groom shoots his future bride with a bow and arrow three times.

But before you panic, no blood is shed because they remove the arrowheads before firing, so no brides are harmed in the process! The groom will then retrieve each arrow and break them in half to express their infinite and unbreakable love for one another.

The whole wedding ceremony takes place over two days and is not officially completed until a series of symbolic traditions have been carried out, including the 'shooting of the bride' segment.

9. Fat Camps in Mauritania

Brides in the western African country of Mauritania take a different approach to the western culture of 'shredding for the wedding’.

Instead, girls are sent to 'fattening camps' at a young age to pile on the pounds, because the more voluptuous a woman is, the wealthier her future husband would appear.

If a Mauritanian woman has chunky thighs, stretch marks and stomach rolls, it indicated her husband was wealthy enough to keep his wife well fed and not doing any manual labour.

10. Beating the Groom's Feet in South Korea

In South Korea, before the groom can embark on his first night as a married man, he must have his feet beaten by the wedding guests.

This tradition is known as Falaka, and it is meant to test the groom's strength and character to help prepare him for a long and happy marriage. Guests can use rods, canes or even fish to beat the groom's bare feet while he is held down by his groomsmen.

During this lighthearted beating, guests will quiz him and test his memory in a bid to make his mind and body stronger before he embarks on his first night of marriage.

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We hope you found this article informative and entertaining.

Weddings are an extra special affair, but along with the excitement, celebration and glamor (and sometimes, bizarre traditions as shown in this article!) that comes with a wedding, there’s also the task of choosing the perfect gift. Don’t worry, though; Taz & Jay is here to help.

From unique Mr & Mrs gifts to personalised gifts for the happy couple, Taz & Jay has you covered with their helpful gift lists.