Not the most romantic wedding night, eh? Lucky for all, the Middle Ages are long over. The groom would afterwards emerge, bringing the bride’s garter as a proof of consummating the marriage. The crowd often stood right in front of the door, making sure that the “deed was done”. In medieval times, after the wedding was done, the newlyweds were expected to immediately consummate the marriage. Still, this seemingly innocent ritual has some darker roots. Similarly, to tossing the wedding bouquet, she’ll toss the garter into the crowd, for one lucky attendant to catch. During the celebrations, the bride would take off her garter, a piece of lingerie used to hold stockings up. In English tradition there is the wedding custom called the Garter Toss. Not all wedding rituals are cruel or odd.
Throwing the Garter to the Eager Crowd (England) Putting a Price on Marriage: The Long-standing Custom of DowriesĤ.Marriage: Is the Sacred Bond a Result of Social Evolution or Deliberate Design?.That’s a sure way to prove you are a capable man and warrior, even though the days of sword and rifle wielding are long gone. When entering the yard of the bride’s home, the groom is given a rifle (usually a hunting shotgun), with which he has to shoot an apple that is raised high up above the home. But the most common wedding ritual in Serbia is the shooting of the apple by the groom. Then there is the bride’s throwing of the flour sieve above the roof of the house, or the best man’s throwing of coins into the crowd. They range from faux “stealing” of the bride, from “purchasing” her with real money, to stealing her shoe and holding it ransom.
In Serbia, weddings are a particularly lavish affair, and specific rituals are diming a dozen. Amongst the South Slavs in particular, many pre-Christian rituals are still practiced, especially at weddings. The Slavs still preserve many of their oldest traditions. Shooting the Apple as a Heroic Feat (Serbia) As a similar version is present in Northern Ireland, it can be assumed that it is a Gaelic ritual with an enigmatic purpose.ģ. The exact purpose of this truly odd ritual is unknown, but could date to pre-Christian times. Afterwards, the couple is “paraded” about, often covering long distances thus dirtied. The couple is covered - entirely - with things like fish sauce, tar, feathers, spoiled milk, rotten eggs, flour, mud, or anything equally nasty. It is called “Blackening the Bride”, and involves the complete covering of the newlyweds in disgusting substances. And its true purpose is quite a mystery today. However, during the wedding a unique ritual had to be conducted. It was a way to bring two families together, to further the kinship amongst clans, and to seal alliances and mend arguments. In the old times, Scots placed great importance on marriage. Blackening the Newlyweds with Filth (Scottish)
Traders spit into their palms when shaking hands on agreement, and elders bless newborns by spitting on them. Spitting is an important ritual amongst the Maasai, and conveys utmost respect. Afterwards, she leaves with her new husband, but does not turn around under any condition - elsewise she would turn into a stone. The way this blessing is conducted, however, is a bit odd: the father blesses his daughter by spitting on her head and breasts. This can be observed in one of their wedding rituals, where the newlyweds seek out the blessing of the bride’s father. And even today they cling to their ancient traditions and customs, living a lifestyle that hasn’t changed much for centuries. Inhabiting the African Great Lakes region, the Maasai peoples are among the oldest in the region. Spitting on the Bride as a Blessing (Maasai, Kenya) Here are 10 fascinating wedding rituals from ancient history that can leave you speechless - and glad you got married in the 21st century! 1. Many things differed to the relationships and weddings of modern times. However, in ancient history, weddings were not always so joyful, and were often filled with some truly quirky and unique rituals. No matter how it is celebrated or how lavishly, it is the moment of their union - “‘til death do us part”. For countless couples across the globe, the wedding day is one of the most cherished days in their life.
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