Unique Wedding Traditions

India – Shoe Stealing Game

In some Indian weddings, the bride`s sisters steal the groom’s shoes and demand money to return them, turning the ceremony into playful bargaining.

China – Crying Ritual

In certain Chinese regions, brides cry for an hour every day for a month before the wedding to express joy and sorrow, creating a unique emotional display.

Scotland – The Blackening

In Scotland, friends cover the bride and groom with soot, feathers, and flour, believing the messy tradition will prepare them for marital challenges.

Japan – White Hood Tradition

Japanese brides wear a white hood called “tsunokakushi” to symbolize humility and hide their “horns of jealousy” during the ceremony.

Mauritania – Fattening the Bride

In some Mauritanian communities, brides are sent to “fattening farms” where they gain weight, as a fuller figure is considered a sign of beauty and wealth.

Congo – No Smiling Rule

In the Congo, the bride and groom are forbidden to smile during the entire wedding ceremony to show the seriousness of the union.

Kenya – Spitting Blessing

Among the Maasai in Kenya, the bride’s father spits on her head and chest as a sign of blessing before she leaves with her husband.