Do you agree that weddings are the most special union of anybody’s life with affection associated? I am sure you do. Furthermore, you also may know the fact that different parts of the world follow different wedding traditions or rather weird wedding traditions.
If you don’t know, why do you scratch your head in confusion? Read the entire article to get all the related information. After all, weddings are not a very recent thing. The officiating of a romantic relationship and tagging exclusivity with it has been happening for a long time.
Over the years, weddings and the passing down of heritage have been touched by a lot of changes. However, there are some customs that have not changed ever since then. They may be weird to some but, in fact, hold an auspicious significance.
It is pretty obvious that you know about these weird wedding traditions of your own culture, but interestingly, each and every country has its own ways of traditions. Let’s cut to the chase and briefly touch on the 10 most weird wedding traditions in the world that will surprise you.
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Weird Wedding Traditions That Will Surprise You
Because every country and culture follows different folklore to celebrate happy moments and festivities, knowing all of them will add a lot of information to your current set of knowledge. Plus, you will enjoy every weird marriage tradition, and after reading, you will wish that you could also be part of some of them.
1. Joota Chupai
In India, this is one of the most interesting and laughter-filled traditions (rasam), where the sisters of the bride chalk a foolproof plan to steal and hide the shoes of the groom.
In exchange for the shoes (joota’s), the groom has to pay the sisters (shagun), as per their demand. Not only do sisters enjoy this tradition, but today the family of the groom also tries to protect the shoes.
The fun banter between the families of the bride and groom is what makes this more engaging. To some foreigners, this may be one of the weird traditions of a wedding, but at Indian weddings, this time is always looked forward to.
2. Marrying a Tree, Dog, or Cow
Again this really strange wedding tradition followed in India is the bride marrying a tree, cow or dog. Why? This happens because, in Hindu traditions, the horoscope (Kundali) is given a lot of importance.
Especially women who have a Mangala Dosha can pose a threat to the life of the men whom they will marry. Therefore, to eliminate or elude the unforeseen menaces, the family of the bride gets her married to a tree, dog, or cow before they marry anybody else.
As weird as it sounds, in reality also, it’s no less than an oddity.
3. Kissing the Bride
Sweden is not behind and has this weird wedding ceremony tradition where the groom gets kissed by all the ladies one by one after the bride leaves.
Following when the groom gets up to go to the bathroom, all the men in attendance kiss the bride one by one. So, don’t be alarmed or irked if you see the newlyweds kissing other people; that is also too many.
Over the years, even the male best friends of the groom also get up to kiss him, which becomes the laughing point at the wedding.
4. Not Smiling Throughout the Wedding
What’s up, Congo, with the bride and groom not allowed to laugh the entire ceremony? As much as it is hard for you to believe, it is very much true.
The couple is not allowed to smile or laugh, but if they are seen smiling, it is considered that they are not serious about the relationship. So, even when they want to smile at each other after exchanging looks, they have to keep it under control.
5. Smashing Plates
It is very normal for evil spirits to get attracted to happy, joyous, or celebratory moments like weddings. Especially in Greek wedding ceremonies, where the couple and guests intentionally break glass or plates to either wear off the spirits or to symbolize that no wedding is happening anywhere near them.
6. Beating Groom’s Feet
If you thought that marrying a god was weird, then this wedding tradition practiced in South Korea is no less than absurd. The family of the bride tests the patience of the groom and ties his feet with rope to beat them with either sticks or dried fish.
As he is taking the bride home, it is like a fun test for him, more than a punishment. (Definitely, not painful!)
7. Spitting on the Bride
Ewwww!! I couldn’t agree more. However, in Kenya, especially in the Massai community, it is considered totally opposite. After the wedding ceremony, the father of the bride spits on the head and breasts of the bride with the intention of symbolizing good fortune and all the luck in the world.
For a lot of us, it is not only eww but also one of the weirdest wedding traditions, but the intention of doing so is not at all wrong.
8. Crying Bride
It may not seem like a weird wedding custom, but what if I tell you the bride has to commence crying a month before the wedding? Very absurd, right? This Chinese tradition is not a recent one; in fact, it dates back to China’s Warring States era when the mother of the Zhao princess started shedding tears at her wedding.
Currently, the brides of the Tujia ethnic group in Zhangjiajie start crying a month before, followed by their mother and father, who begin to cry after a 10-10 days gap. It is like the bride is practicing crying on the day of her wedding ceremony.
9. Couple Can’t Use Bathroom for 3 Days
Like seriously!!! I know I had the same reaction. This weird cum bizarre wedding tradition is followed by an Indonesian Tribe, the Tidong community. The newlyweds are prohibited from using the toilet or attending nature’s call for three days straight.
After they are married, they spend the next three days together without using washrooms to avoid any bad luck, the death of their child at a young age, or even infidelity, for that matter.
Moreover, the couple lives on very few fluids and food and only uses the loo or bathes after those three days. To stop bad luck from happening, the entire family and close ones keep a strict eye on them.
10. Bride Will Charge For Each Dance
In Cuba, every man who wishes to dance with the bride and have the honor must attach money to her dress. This weird wedding tradition is basically for the couple to pay for the drinks and food at the reception party.
Although it is not like the couple is going to pay for the wedding, in a way, they follow with the same intention.
There are more such weird wedding traditions; however, personally, I found these 10 to be the weirdest of the lot. Next time you want to go and attend any wedding, go prepared in advance, as you don’t know what may actually happen like in a military wedding.
