Tottaly Cool Pix: Bizarre Wedding Rituals in Various Cultures

Sunday, 29 December 2013

Bizarre Wedding Rituals in Various Cultures

Wedding rituals and traditions vary greatly between cultures, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vows by the couple, presentation of a gift (ring, flowers etc.), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure. Many cultures have adopted the traditional Western custom of the white wedding (associated with the wedding of Queen Victoria),in which a bride wears a white wedding dress and veil.

Marriage is a universal occasion, in any culture it come with a laundry list of traditions and rituals, including the old rhyme, “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” It is one of the few similarities countries across the globe have in common. In many cultures, preparing for a wedding involves booking a venue, getting the wedding dress and inviting the guests. But with the following unusual and amazing wedding rituals it is clear just how diverse weddings can be. Here are top 10 bizarre wedding rituals from around the world that go beyond the white dress and veil.

Beating the Groom’s Feet | South Korea

The ritual of “beating the groom’s feet” takes place after the wedding ceremony in South Korea. The Groom’s friends remove his shoes and tie his feet together with a rope or sash. They then lift his legs off the ground and start beating the soles of his feet with a stick or dried yellow corvina. Yellow corvina is a kind of fish! It is believed that this will make the groom stronger before the first wedding night. It can be painful but it’s more fun than cruel. Actually it’s a fun tradition, the intention behind this is to check the groom’s strength and knowledge. He is often asked questions and quizzed during the test. This amusing ritual holds an important place in Korean wedding culture.