An Armenian superstition insists that a careful balancing of bread will foil any malicious spirit’s plans to sabotage your holy matrimony. Upon entering the wedding reception, flatbread is laid on the shoulders of both bride and groom.
The couple then has to smash a plate and be fed spoonfuls of honey – all the while being mindful not to let the bread drop. Wow, that’s a lot to think about during your own wedding!
No Smiling on Your Wedding Day
Some ethnic groups in the Congo insist on something that will sound insane to any western family — not a single smile on your wedding day. Imagine flipping through that wedding album.
The tradition emphasizes the earnestness of marriage, claiming that any joy expressed on the wedding day is a clear indicator that the couple is not taking the union seriously. All we can imagine is the photographer shouting, “Don’t smile!” constantly.
Japanese Brides Have to Hide Their Horns
In Japan, Shinto weddings are especially stunning. The bride graces the ceremony in an all-white ensemble. Part of this ensemble is a headdress known as a Tsunokakushi.
The Tsunokakushi holds a peculiar symbolism in the wedding ceremony: hiding the bride’s horns of jealousy. As the superstition goes, the jealousy is directed at her mother-in-law. To prove her devotion the bride must repress these feelings, at least symbolically, by hiding her “horns”.
Hometown Sticks for Couples Who Stick Together
The Samburu people of Kenya have their own version of “something old.” To show they won't forget where they came from, the Samburu bride and the groom must choose two sticks from their place of birth and cross them at their marriage ceremony. Think of it as a gesture to your hometown.
In a very poetic sense, this tradition signifies that the couple is still true to their roots but is also growing new ones.
I Now Declare You Lumberjacks!
German weddings rank as some of the most joyous ones in the world, with a variety of quirky traditions and superstitions that make the festivities all the more eccentric and amusing.
Baumstamm sägen is the German tradition of a groom and bride sawing a log in half, which symbolizes their first challenge as a married couple. Teamwork! Once the log is in half, the guests shower the couple in confetti and proceed to the reception.