Tag: wedding traditions

Have you ever stopped to think about all the different types of weddings and wedding traditions from around the world? Sure, we get so caught up in our own wedding planning that we tend to overlook how many varieties of traditions there are throughout the globe. While some cultures and countries spend more time on fertility spells and less time on choosing the right wedding invitations, it’s fascinating to see what types of traditions are out there for other people. Take a look at this awesome infographic below from our friends at GiftBasketsOverseas.com.

Marital traditions and superstitions aren’t just found in the United States. There are plenty of other countries around the globe that incorporate certain cultural expectations into their big day. Here are some of the strangest traditions or superstitions that you may have never heard about.

Wearing a White Dress

Nowadays, most Western countries adorn their beautiful brides in white dresses, but this wasn’t always the case. This tradition actually started as a trend in the 1840’s by Queen Victoria, and has been popular ever since! Believe it or not, some countries have a traditional color of red for their wedding dresses as white can represent something entirely different.

Carrying Across the Threshold

Surely this is a custom you’ve heard from a few western countries, including the United States. But have you ever wondered why the groom is supposed to carry his new wife across the threshold of their home? This custom is intended as a form of protection, as for the groom to carry his bride in his arms is an act of warding off evil spirits through strength.

Wearing a Veil

This is not just a fashion trend, as one might assume. Wearing a veil means something entirely different. What originated in Ancient Greece and Rome, is a tradition that is intended to protect the bride from any evil spirits during her wedding.

Weekly Food Preparation 

A custom in Egypt (that we can totally get behind by the way) is that for the entire week leading up to the wedding, the bride’s family does all the cooking for the future newlyweds. Sounds like a dream come true for us!

Rainy Wedding

While most people tend to curse a rain storm on their wedding, some cultures actually believe it is good luck. Hindu cultures for example, think that when it rains on your wedding day, your marriage will be blessed and filled with good luck and good health.

Spiders in the Dress

For many people, finding a spider in a dress would probably result in a lot of screaming and potential tears. Heck, maybe even in extreme cases, the postponement of nuptials. But for the English, finding a spider in your wedding dress is a sign of good luck! Either that, or a really jealous younger sister.

Body Adornment

You probably have seen before many Middle Eastern-style weddings, where the women are adorned with henna all over their hands and feet. Believe it or not, there is a reason for this body art, beyond just looking beautiful. The henna is said to have protective purposes, that when on the hands and feet of a women, will keep them safe from the evil eye, which is said to leave women unable to have children.

Dunking in Milk

While you may be more accustomed to dunking cookies in milk, you probably will find it a bit strange to dunk your entire body. However, this is a pre-wedding ritual for Moroccans. Before the wedding, Moroccan women take a milk bath, mixed with argan oils in order to purify themselves before the big day. Although cookies aren’t allowed in the tub with you, it sounds like a great way to stay soft before the wedding!

Something Borrowed, Something…Green

Bet you expected us to say blue, huh? Well in Japan, blue is not the lucky color of choice for a wedding. In fact, in Japan, green is the lucky color of choice. Green gifts and green clothing are given to the couple in order to prepare them for eternity together.

A Spit of Good Luck

For many of us, spitting is a dirty habit that we’ve been groomed as children to avoid at all costs. However, in Kenya, spitting is something that happens at a wedding as a blessing. Can you believe that?! The father of the bride will spit on his daughter’s head and chest in order to bless her and her new union.

The Tooth of a Whale

It is common for many cultures to ask the father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. While in Fiji, that is still the case, there is something else that accompanies this question. When a man wishes to wed a woman, he must ask her father for permission, while also presenting him with a whale tooth. This signifies the man’s commitment to the daughter, and the seriousness of his request.

A Walk Across the Relatives

I’m sure many of you have considered stepping on your relatives or in-laws at one point or another. The good news is, that if you’re getting married in French Polynesia, your dreams will become a reality! After the wedding, the relatives of both the bride and groom lay on the ground, facedown, and allow the couple to walk across them. Good luck, perhaps? Or maybe just a free chiropractic adjustment.

Giving a Gift

One of the most popular, and most coveted wedding traditions across the globe involves giving a gift to the bride and groom. Honoring the couple and their commitment to one another is truly a magical thing, and what better way to reward them in their commitment than with a gift?! Our friends over at GiftBasketsOverseas.com have an incredible collection of wedding gifts for different countries and cultures, perfect to send along to the new couple. Take a look at their arrangement of wedding gifts and see for yourself.