Everybody has a certain expectation about their marriage, some ‘forever’ type wedding wishes. It’s more than just a marriage certificate. However, not every bride and groom can choose how their wedding day might turn out to be. Here’s a list of the 7 most bizarre wedding traditions around the world…(* After this, you’ll consider yourself lucky if you are saying ‘I do’ the normal way, I Promise!*)
1.The Crying ceremony, China
China is a country that has a rich cultural heritage to boast. With thick culture, comes weird traditions. In China, a sect called the Tujia, that ranks 8th in the ethnic minority in China believe in the crying ceremony. This ceremony comprises of the bride, preparing for her wedding a month in advance. What’s weird about this you’d say? Well, the bride’s prep includes crying daily for an hour, almost a month before her wedding. A week later, her mother joins in, one more week and her grandmother, aunts join in. Towards the wedding, the entire female clan weeps for 1 hour daily until the wedding.However, this is done as a sign of positivity and happiness. Like I say, it’s okay to cry too often.
2. The Kumbh Vivah, India
India, my rich , colourful, vibrant and beautiful country. We as Indians are knee deep in rituals and traditions, some good, some not so great, like the weird wedding tradition. But this is right on top of the list when it comes to weird facts about Indian weddings. The kumbh Vivah is done in case of Mangliks.According to astrology,Mangliks are basically individuals who may face some glitches post marriage. To avoid any unfortunate occurrences, it is believes that the manglik should first marry either a tree(Banana or Peepal), or a doll or in many cases a pitcher of water. This isn’t some fake wedding. Therefore, the bride will adorn complete wedding dress(not weird wedding dresses), take the wedding vows(7 pheres) etc. After this, she is free to marry her prospective.
3. The feet hitting feat, Korea
Korean weddings have a bizarre ritual wherein, the groom’s feet is tied together and latched onto a stick. His feet is the taken off the ground. Using Yellow Corniva, a form of dried fish, the groom is hit in his feet. This isn’t as torturous as you’d think. It is infact, made out to be a fun event, wherein the groom is asked fun questions and quizzed, he is expected to give the correct answers to these questions while being subjected to hitting. Knowledge testing isn’t the only objective behind this ritual, it is also believed that this ritual is done to check the groom strength before his first night( *Hold your horses there people*). South Korean weddings sound fun.
4.Carrying the bride, Europe
You’d ask, what’s weird about that? Well, this is an old tradition and is pretty prevalent in many parts of the world for various reasons, however it is believe here that the bride might be extra vulnerable to evil spirits through her feet. Therefore, the groom is asked to carry her up-to her new home.(and we aren’t complaining, right ladies?). Some religions also believe that this is symbolic of the bride not wanting to leave her maiden home and therefore the guy is almost literally carrying her to her new house.
5. Marrying animals, India
In some parts of India, it is believed that one can ward off evil by letting the bride marry an animal. It is believed that girls who were either born with a single teeth or were born rather ugly are believed to be possessed by some evil spirits. They can do away with this by getting married to an animal. Post which they are at free will to marry their choice of husband. The bride is not expected to have any kind of physical relations with the animal, its merely a ritual(*thank god for that*). No wedding anniversary to celebrate!
6. Kyz ala kachuu, Kyrgyzstan
Again upping the weird quotient is the Kyz ala kachuu tradition. This very literally means, ‘to take the young woman and run away’. The bride is taken away by force or conceit. The groom and his relatives are responsible for the same. Popularly known as the bride kidnapping, is practiced in various parts of the world. The bride has to be kidnapped by the groom and taken to his house along with the help of his relatives. She will then be convinced by the female family members of the groom to wear the scarf. This is symbolic of her acceptance to the marriage.
7. Pay and dance,Poland
This ritual had originated in Poland sometime during the 1960’s. This ritual involves the bride or groom dance, but this is taken one step ahead.The male members part of this wedding can pay the bride and ask her for a dance. Similarly, the female members of the wedding can ask the groom for a dance in turn get paid for it. Interesting isn’t it?
Leave it on us to keep this world an interesting place filled with bizarre traditions and shocking rituals. These were just some of the bizarre wedding traditions around the world, amazing stuff!
Tanith Scrolls 