"Spitting On The Bride" and 9 other bizarre wedding rituals

Love may be universal, but the ways people celebrate it couldn’t be more different. Some couples toast with champagne and dance under candlelight, while others begin their journey with leftovers, arrows, or even a month's worth of tears. Across the globe—from Chinese villages to remote Pacific islands—wedding rituals range from deeply symbolic to downright strange. Here are some of the wildest wedding traditions from around the world.

Imagine a wedding tradition where joy is measured not by laughter but by tears. In certain regions of China, brides from the Tujia ethnic group begin crying a full month before their big day. For one hour each evening, the bride weeps to express happiness and gratitude. Ten days in, her mother joins her, and by the final week, her grandmother, sisters, aunts, and cousins take part as well. The sound is said to resemble a "symphony of tears," as locals call it. It may seem dramatic to outsiders, but for the Tujia, this ritual is believed to wash away misfortune and welcome joy into the marriage, turning tears into a celebration of family and future.

In some parts of Africa, weddings are not always centered on laughter and dancing. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, certain traditional ceremonies are described as austere and solemn. The bride and groom are expected to remain serious from start to finish, not even a hint of a smile allowed. The reasoning is that marriage is a sacred commitment, too important for outward giggles or casual grins. To an outsider, the sight might look less like a celebration of love and more like the world’s most intense staring contest; for locals, it’s a symbol of respect, devotion, and gravity.

Scotland’s version of pre-wedding "fun" isn’t for the faint of heart. Here, the couple’s closest friends gather before the ceremony to stage the blackening, a messy and mischievous ritual meant to test the pair’s endurance. The bride and groom are chased, caught, and covered in a vile mix of sticky leftovers, spoiled milk, fish guts, flour, and rotten eggs. Once properly coated, they’re paraded through town for everyone to admire. It’s smelly, chaotic, and a little cruel, but there’s meaning behind the madness: if two people can handle such public embarrassment together, they can probably handle anything marriage throws their way.

Would you let your new spouse kiss every guest on your wedding day? No, it’s not the plot of some surreal romantic comedy. As it happens, in Sweden it’s a lighthearted wedding tradition! Whenever the bride or groom leaves the room, the guests line up to give a kiss to the one who stays behind. It may sound a little too wild to some, but in Sweden it’s generally seen as a playful and harmless way to celebrate the newlyweds.

In the remote Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, love takes a surprisingly literal form. At the end of the ceremony, family members may lie down on the ground to form what is sometimes described as a "human carpet." The newlyweds then walk across their relatives’ backs on their way out, a gesture meant to honor the family’s blessing and symbolize unity between both sides. It works as a reminder that marriage rests, quite literally, on the support of loved ones. The only caution? It’s best if the bride leaves the high heels aside for this one.

France, known for elegant cuisine and candlelit dinners, once had a wedding custom that was far less glamorous. After the celebration ended, family and friends would gather the leftovers and serve them to the newlyweds in a toilet bowl or chamber pot. The concoction, commonly referred to as la soupe, was meant to "restore the couple’s strength" after their long day. In later versions of the tradition, guests substituted the original mixture with chocolate or champagne to make it more "festive." While it sounds more like a prank than a tradition, it symbolized good fortune and fertility. Thankfully, modern French couples now prefer to recover their energy with a croissant and café au lait instead of… whatever that was.

In Maasai culture in Kenya and northern Tanzania, blessings sometimes take an unexpected yet heartfelt form. Instead of a long speech or formal ceremony, a father offers his daughter good fortune with a simple gesture: he spits lightly on her head and chest before she leaves to begin her married life. It may sound disgusting, but among the Maasai, it’s a deeply respectful gesture. In a region where water is scarce and every drop is precious, even a small amount of saliva carries powerful symbolism. It represents life, protection, and the hope that the union will be strong and prosperous.

In South Korea, a groom’s path to the altar sometimes comes with one final challenge. Before the ceremony, his friends tie his ankles together, lift his feet, and playfully strike the soles with sticks or dried fish while firing off trivia questions. The custom, commonly known as bal dalli gi (literally "beating the feet"), is less about pain and more about proving the groom’s resilience and quick wit under pressure. The blows are meant to sting just enough to keep him alert, while the laughter from the crowd keeps the mood light. It’s a comical mix of endurance test and friendship ritual.

Among the Yugur (also known as the Yughur) people of northwestern China, love traditionally begins with a symbolic act of archery. In this centuries-old ritual, the groom takes a bow and fires three arrows directly at his bride. Don’t worry, the arrows are deliberately blunted or have their tips removed to ensure safety. Once the arrows have struck her dress, he retrieves them and breaks them in half, symbolizing that their bond can never be broken. All in all, the gesture represents both trust and eternal devotion, showing that true love doesn’t always come in diamond form.

On the misty island of Borneo, love begins with an endurance test worthy of a reality show. According to widely circulated accounts, among the Tidong people, newlyweds spend their honeymoon locked in a small room for three full days and nights—not even bathroom breaks allowed! Family members monitor the couple to ensure the rules are observed. The couple is given just enough food and water to get by, but the challenge is mostly symbolic: a test of patience, trust, and teamwork. If they can face three days in close quarters without escaping (or arguing), legend says their marriage will be long and unbreakable. It’s not exactly a tropical getaway, but it might just be the ultimate test of compatibility!

You probably do it too

RAS syndrome: we all have it. Here are 12 common examples.

Image: Linh Pham

Some of these phrases belong to what is known as RAS (Redundant Acronym Syndrome), a linguistic phenomenon in which an acronym or initialism is used alongside one of the words it represents, such as "ATM machine." Others are simply redundancies that have become common through frequent use, like "free gift." Still, we all use a couple of these—at least. Which of these 12 do you use the most?

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The phrase "ATM machine" is redundant because "ATM" already stands for "Automated Teller Machine," so adding "machine" repeats the word unnecessarily. It’s like saying "Automated Teller Machine machine."

This phrase is not the only example of RAS on the list, as we will see in the following entries.

Image: Ekaterina Shevchenko

An expression commonly found in advertising and marketing, "free gift," is redundant because a gift already means something given without payment. Adding "free" simply repeats what the word "gift" already implies.

Though often used in advertising to emphasize that there’s no cost, "free gift" technically restates the same idea twice.

Image: Eduardo Soares

Saying "PIN number" is redundant because "PIN" already stands for "Personal Identification Number," so adding "number" repeats the word unnecessarily.

While common in casual speech, this expression is best avoided in formal or precise writing.

Image: Jakub Żerdzicki

Another redundant phrase, "end result" falls into this category because "result" already means the outcome of something. Adding "end" repeats an idea that’s already implied in the word.

Saying "end result" is like saying "final outcome outcome." Simply using "result" is clear and complete on its own. Though stylistically the phrase is still widely used for emphasis in both spoken and written English.

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"Added bonus" is redundant because a bonus already means something extra or beyond what’s expected. Saying "added" simply repeats the idea unnecessarily. Since "bonus" already implies an addition, the word "added" doesn’t contribute any new meaning. It’s a clear example of redundancy in language.

Like "free gift," this phrase is very common and often used for emphasis in everyday speech or marketing.

Image: Marek Studzinski

"Close proximity" is redundant because "proximity" already means closeness or nearness. Adding "close" simply repeats the same idea.

Not unlike the previously mentioned "PIN number," where "number" is already part of the acronym. In both cases, one word unnecessarily duplicates the meaning of the other.

Image: Breana Panaguiton

The expression "advance warning" is redundant because a warning already implies something given ahead of time. Adding "advance" simply repeats the idea of "beforehand."

Since "warning" means prior notice of danger or trouble, saying "advance warning" is like saying "beforehand warning," which adds no new meaning. However, it’s worth noting that this phrase is very common and often considered idiomatic, especially in formal or technical contexts.

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This one should be obvious, but we’ve all seen it from time to time. "Unexpected surprise" is redundant because a surprise is, by nature, not expected.

Saying "unexpected" adds no new meaning—unless, of course, the person was already expecting a surprise and received a different one, which effectively surprised them.

Image: Julia Joppien

Saying that something is "completely destroyed" is redundant because "destroyed" already means total ruin. Adding "completely" simply repeats the idea without adding any new meaning.

When something is destroyed, it’s already beyond repair or use. Saying "destroyed" alone is clear and sufficient.

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A much-used phrase in the age of fake news, "true fact" is redundant because a fact is, by definition, something that is true or can be proven. Adding "true" just repeats what’s already implied.

It’s like saying "frozen ice" or "past history"—the second word adds no new meaning. While "true fact" may be used for emphasis, it’s unnecessary and best avoided in formal writing.

Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters

Since all plans are, by nature, in the future, the expression "future plans" is redundant. Adding "future" repeats what is already understood.

Unless you have a time machine, you can’t make plans for the past, so the word "future" adds nothing. Simply saying "plans" is clear and more concise.

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Another expression used for added drama, "unsolved mystery" is redundant because a mystery already implies something unexplained or unresolved. Adding "unsolved" repeats what’s inherently part of the word.

A mystery is, by definition, something not yet understood, so saying "mystery" alone is clear and more concise.