Strange Customs Followed in the Name of Love
Strange Customs Followed in the Name of Love
Introduction
Love is a universal emotion, but the ways people express it vary greatly across cultures. Some traditions are sweet, while others might seem bizarre to outsiders. Here are some of the strangest customs followed in the name of love.
1. The Blackening of the Bride - Scotland
In Scotland, brides and grooms are subjected to a rather messy pre-wedding ritual called "blackening." Friends and family cover them in a mixture of soot, feathers, and other sticky substances to ward off evil spirits and prepare them for marriage.
2. Crying Marriage - China
The Tujia people of China have a unique custom where brides start crying a month before their wedding. Every day, they cry for about an hour. As the days pass, their mother, grandmother, and other female relatives join in, symbolizing the depth of love and sadness in leaving their family.
3. Love Huts - Cambodia
In some Cambodian communities, young women are given "love huts" by their families. These huts allow them to spend time with potential suitors until they find a suitable partner for marriage.
4. Fat Farms - Mauritania
In Mauritania, being overweight is considered a sign of beauty and wealth. Some women are sent to "fat farms" where they are fed calorie-rich diets to gain weight before marriage, believing that a fuller figure will make them more attractive to potential husbands.
5. Bullet Ant Gloves - Brazil
The Sateré-Mawé tribe of Brazil has a painful test for young men to prove their love and worthiness. They must wear gloves filled with bullet ants, which have one of the most painful stings in the world, and endure the pain as a rite of passage into adulthood.
6. Sleeping with Love Dolls - Japan
In Japan, some individuals turn to realistic love dolls as romantic partners. These lifelike dolls provide companionship to those who struggle with forming human relationships, making it a peculiar yet growing trend.
7. Living Apart Together - Netherlands
In the Netherlands, a growing number of couples follow the "Living Apart Together" (LAT) custom, where they remain in a committed relationship but live in separate homes. This allows them to maintain independence while still being together.
8. Whale Tooth Engagement - Fiji
In Fiji, a man seeking a woman's hand in marriage must present her father with a whale's tooth, known as a "tabua." This is a symbol of respect and commitment, and without it, a proposal might not be accepted.
9. Carving a Wooden Spoon - Wales
Welsh men traditionally carve intricate wooden spoons as a declaration of love. These "love spoons" are then gifted to their beloved as a sign of their affection and dedication.
10. Stealing Shoes at Indian Weddings
In Indian weddings, a fun custom called "Joota Chupai" involves the bride's sisters and female relatives stealing the groom’s shoes and demanding money in exchange for their return.
11. Spitting on the Bride - Kenya
Among the Maasai people of Kenya, it is customary for the father of the bride to spit on her head and chest as a blessing before she leaves for her husband's home.
12. Knocking on the Bride's Door - Germany
In some parts of Germany, a groom must prove his determination by knocking on his bride’s door and completing various tasks set by her family before he is allowed to enter.
13. Jumping Over Brooms - Africa
Jumping over a broom is a traditional African-American wedding ritual that symbolizes sweeping away the past and starting a new life together.
14. Log Cutting Ceremony - Germany
After a wedding in Germany, the couple must work together to saw a log in half, symbolizing teamwork and their ability to overcome future obstacles together.
15. Hiding the Bride - Romania
In Romania, friends and family "kidnap" the bride before the wedding, and the groom must negotiate a ransom to get her back, often involving money or a funny task.
16. Throwing Apples - Austria
In Austria, a woman interested in a man may throw an apple at him. If he picks it up and eats it, it means he returns her affections.
17. Rice Showers - Philippines
At weddings in the Philippines, guests shower the couple with rice as they exit the ceremony, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.
18. Carrying the Bride Over Fire - China
In some parts of China, the groom carries his bride over burning coal before entering their home to ensure a happy marriage.
19. Drinking from a Unity Cup - Africa
In several African cultures, newlyweds drink from a single ceremonial cup to represent the joining of their lives.
20. Wedding Lasso - Mexico
In Mexican weddings, a lasso or rope is placed around the couple’s shoulders in a figure-eight shape, symbolizing their everlasting bond.
Conclusion
Love takes many forms, and different cultures celebrate it in their own unique ways. Whether it involves crying, gifting whale teeth, or enduring painful rituals, these customs show the lengths people will go to for love.
@2025 Haruka Cigem - Curious Facts Explored.
Post a Comment