For couples around the world, their wedding day is one of the most unforgettable moments in their life. Whether it’s a lavish affair or a simple ceremony, it marks the start of their eternal bond. But in ancient times, weddings were not always so joyful, often filled with quirky and unique rituals that are both fascinating and strange. Here are 10 of the most intriguing and bizarre wedding rituals from ancient history that may leave you speechless – and grateful that you got married in the 21st century!
1. Maasai, Kenya – Spitting on the Bride as a Blessing
The Maasai people, one of the oldest in the African Great Lakes region, still cling to their ancient customs and traditions. For them, the blessing of the bride’s father is a crucial part of the wedding ceremony. However, the blessing comes in a most peculiar way – the father spits on the bride’s head and breasts as a sign of respect. Turning around after receiving the blessing is forbidden, else the bride would turn into a stone. This ritual of spitting is an important aspect of their culture, as traders spit into their palms when shaking hands on an agreement and elders bless newborns by spitting on them.
2. Scottish – Blackening the Newlyweds with Filth
Marriage was vital in Scotland’s olden times as it brought two families together, allied clans, and reconciled differences. The wedding ceremony included a unique ritual called “Blackening the Bride,” the purpose of which is a mystery to this day. This involves completely covering the couple with anything revolting – tar, feathers, mud, rotten eggs, and more. Afterward, they are “paraded” around, often traveling long distances while covered in filth. This custom could date back to pre-Christian times, as a similar practice exists in Northern Ireland.
3. Serbia – Shooting the Apple as a Heroic Feat
The Serbs still retain many of their ancient customs, pre-Christian rites, and rituals. One ritual at their weddings that stands out is the shooting of an apple by the groom. Upon entering the bride’s yard, the groom is handed a rifle, usually a hunting shotgun, to shoot an apple, which is raised high up above the home. This ritual proves the groom’s worth and warrior skills, even though the days of wielding swords and rifles are long gone.
4. England – Throwing the Garter to the Eager Crowd
One of the more playful wedding customs in English tradition is the Garter Toss. Like the tossing of the wedding bouquet, the bride takes off her garter, and the lucky person who catches it is said to be next in line to wed. However, the roots of this seemingly innocent custom can be traced back to medieval times, where the newlyweds were expected to consummate the marriage immediately. The crowd often stood right in front of the door, ensuring that the “deed was done.” The groom would then present the bride’s garter as proof of their consummation. Good thing the Middle Ages are over!
5. Korea – Beating the Feet Brings Good Luck?
In Korea, an old and respected wedding ritual is still practiced today, where the groom endures a foot beating after the wedding ceremony. The men seat him down, tie his feet together, remove his shoes and socks, and beat his soles with dried yellow fish, a cane, or a stick. Although the ritual is meant to be hilarious rather than painful, it can still be quite painful! It is said to bring good luck to the newlyweds, and to prepare the groom for the first wedding night. How it works is anyone’s guess.
6. Afghan – Dancing with the Sword to Impress Your Bride
In some cultures, couples lack an intimate relationship until their wedding day. This is especially true in societies where arranged marriages are the norm. The Afghan tradition allows men to perform the daring sword dance called the Attan to impress their brides. The dance, full of challenging twists and turns, has ancient roots and requires skills with the sword. The Attan was a must-have for the groom, ensuring that he could win his bride’s admiration, without beheading anyone, of course.
7. Egyptian – Wedding Night Dance Procession
One of the best-known wedding customs in modern Egypt is the zaffa, which predates Islam and belongs to the old customs of ancient Egypt. It is a musical procession celebrating the newly married couple with flaming swords, drums, pipes, horns, belly dancers, and all kinds of fun elements. This procession reaches its destination where the party continues, and everyone enjoys dinner. Though it may have had religious connotations in the ancient times, it likely invoked the deities of fertility and prosperity, as dances were a frequent form of ritual invocation for the Ancient Egyptians.
8. Congo – No Smiling Permitted Whatsoever
In Congo, wedding ceremonies bear significant responsibility as the couple is expected to spend their life together and raise children. As such, weddings are a solemn and serious occasion. During or after the ceremony, neither the couple nor the guests can smile or laugh. It is impossible to take the ceremony seriously if anyone smiles. Only after the event is over can the couple finally crack a smile!
9. Sweden – Everyone May Kiss the Bride!
In Sweden, an old tradition allows all the male guests in attendance to kiss the bride if the groom leaves the room – even for a minute. The same rule applies to the female guests, should the bride leave. This tradition hints at a society where open displays of affection were not allowed, making it a fun way to challenge social norms and bring joy to the newlyweds.
10. China – A Pre-Nuptial Haircut
One of the more unusual wedding customs belongs to China, where the marriage contract is signed weeks to months in advance, followed by a pre-nuptial haircut. The bride’s hair is washed with water that contains pomegranate leaves, which symbolizes an end to sadness and bad luck, and then cut by a mature woman. Most importantly, the bride is not allowed to look into the mirror when the stylist cuts her hair to avoid cutting off her good luck or happiness.
Despite being bizarre and sometimes inspiring shock, these ancient wedding customs teach us about the deep-rooted values and beliefs of the cultures that passed them down through generations. Their strangeness reminds us of how far we have come and how our society has evolved.
