"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!

Stop! You’ve been using these 11 objects the wrong way

Image: Diana Polekhina

We use countless objects daily without questioning their design, yet many have hidden features or were meant for entirely different purposes. From kitchen tools to bananas, here are 11 everyday items you might be using all wrong—or that at least have surprising secrets built in.

Image: Anastasia Nikitina

Yes, toothpaste was always intended to clean and polish teeth, but its mild abrasives make it effective for cleaning jewelry, removing stains from clothing, and even defogging mirrors.

Interestingly, the first toothpaste-like substance dates back to ancient Egypt, where a blend of pumice and vinegar was used for oral care. Modern toothpaste, which includes ingredients like baking soda—another household staple—explains why it’s so effective on surfaces beyond just teeth.

Image: Markus Winkler

That hole in your pasta spoon isn’t just for draining water; it can also help measure a perfect portion of dry spaghetti!

A single serving of spaghetti is about the amount that fits through the hole. This design prevents cooking too much or too little, though not all pasta spoons have holes large enough for accurate measuring.

Image: engin akyurt

The latch inside gas pump nozzles was originally designed to shut off fuel flow automatically when the tank is full, not to hold the pump open.

Modern pumps use this mechanism as a safety feature, preventing spills and overflows. In some places, using the latch to hold the nozzle open is even illegal due to fire risks.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

Those metal loops on the back of grocery cart seats aren’t just for show—they’re designed to hold plastic bags with fragile items.

Hanging lighter bags here prevents them from being crushed by heavier groceries in the cart, yet few shoppers take advantage of this simple design. So, next time you go shopping, give it a try—it could be a real lifesaver.

Image: Bam Mccarthy

The hole in a soda can tab isn’t just part of the opening mechanism—it can double as a straw holder. Once you pop the can open, turning the tab around aligns the hole perfectly for a straw. This prevents the straw from floating or shifting while drinking.

While this wasn’t the original intent behind the design, it’s a clever and surprisingly convenient way to make use of an otherwise inconsequential design quirk.

Image: Annie Spratt

If you're like me, this has likely been a brain teaser since childhood: What is the blue side of a two-tone eraser for? Popular wisdom says it's for ink removal, but have you ever tried erasing ink with that side? It just completely obliterates the paper.

Well, it turns out the blue side of a two-tone eraser was actually designed for use on heavier paper, not for removing ink.

Image: Matúš Kameniar

The small bumps on the ‘F’ and ‘J’ keys exist to help typists find their hand placement without looking.

These tactile guides help your fingers find their way back to the home row, enabling faster and more efficient typing. Even if you're not a professional typist, you can rely on this feature to improve both speed and accuracy while writing.

Image: Monika Guzikowska

Ever watched a monkey peel a banana? You might be in for a surprise, because it turns out the easiest way to peel a banana is from the bottom, not the stem.

Monkeys naturally pinch the bottom of the banana and pull, avoiding the struggle of breaking the tough stem. This method also reduces the risk of squishing the fruit inside.

Image: Brett Jordan

The small hole at the end of a measuring tape is designed to hook onto nails or screws for one-person measurements. This feature provides a more stable grip when measuring long distances without needing an extra set of hands.

Also, the serrated edge on some tapes doubles as a tool for marking surfaces. So, next time you don't have a buddy around to help, don’t worry—your measuring tape has you covered!

Image: Andrea Davis

Many people use the drawer under their oven for storage, but it was originally designed as a warming drawer.

This compartment keeps cooked food warm while the rest of the meal finishes, though in some modern models, it may simply be intended for extra storage. Checking your oven’s manual might reveal its true purpose.

Image: Mockup Free

Ever heard someone say you can judge a good wine by the depth of the indentation at the bottom of the bottle? Well, that’s a myth, though it may suggest a better-designed bottle.

The indent at the bottom of a wine bottle, called a punt, helps distribute pressure and maintain structural integrity. Originally designed to support the bottle against carbonation in sparkling wines, it’s now mostly tradition but still improves durability.