Dark Bride and Groom, Scotland

In Scotland, there is a strange pre-wedding ceremony called blackening the bride. Friends and family of the bride and groom assemble to shower them with trash such as rotten food, mud, and feathers. The premise behind this dirty custom is that if the couple can go through this embarrassing process, they will be able to deal with any obstacles that marriage throws at them. This practice is said to offer good luck and a deep tie to the soon to be married couple.

Chicken liver divination, China

In some parts of China, an old ritual requires an engaged pair to dissect a chicken and examine its liver. This technique, known as chicken liver divination, involves assessing the liver's health. If the liver is healthy, it is considered a positive omen, and the couple can proceed to schedule their wedding. If the liver is declared sick, the pair cannot marry until they find a chicken with a healthy liver. This technique highlights the significance of fortunate symbols in Chinese culture.

Bride kidnapping, Kyrgyzstan

Bride kidnapping was a widespread practice in Kyrgyzstan until 1991, but it is currently prohibited. This controversial ritual entailed a guy abducting the woman he wanted to marry. If the woman cried during the kidnapping, it was assumed that her tears would result in a good marriage. Parents would frequently agree to their stolen daughter's marriage, especially if she was crying, interpreting it as a sign of her acceptance and potential happiness. Despite being illegal, traces of this ritual can still be seen in rural regions.

Tree marriages, India

In some sections of India, girls born under the astrological influence of Mars, known as Manglix, are regarded to be cursed and bring their husbands to an early demise. To break the curse, the ladies must first marry a tree in a ritual known as karmviva. Following the wedding, the trees cut down, symbolically breaking the curse and allowing the bride to marry a human without fear of damage to her future spouse. This right emphasizes the importance of astrology in Indian marriage rituals.

Love locks, Italy

According to popular belief, Italy is where the custom of tying love locks to bridges first emerged. Couples put their names or initials on a padlock, lock it to a bridge, and then throw the key into the river below. This act represents their unbreakable link and eternal dedication to each other. While the tradition has expanded to many nations throughout the world, it is most popular in Italy, where it continues to attract both visitors and lovers.

Wife carrying championships, Finland

Every year, couples from all over the world come to Songkajavi, Finland, to compete in the wife carrying world championships. This unusual competition features a husband carrying his wife over an obstacle course as rapidly as possible. The winner gets the wife's weight in beer as a prize. The ritual is supposed to have originated in a 19th century legend, and it is now used as a fun and unusual way to commemorate marital teamwork and togetherness.