Fascinating Wedding Traditions From Around The World

Love is the eternal symbol that binds people, however, there are some exceptions to the rule when it comes to the ceremony itself. Even if most people share the love as a universal notion, wedding traditions tend to differ from country to country. Despite that, they all have the same rule – prosperity and longevity of the marriage. Some are weird, some are plain, but altogether they are unique and truly mesmerizing.

Spain - Wearing a black gown

Even though it might sound extremely strange, but in rural Spain it is a common tradition for a bride to wear a black wedding gown. The phrase "till death do us part" may or may not be taken for granted, but wearing a black gown symbolizes commitment and respect. All who desire to adhere to history will choose this peculiar option and give an honest representation of her eternal love for her future husband.

Greece – Do a money dance

Actually this remarkable tradition dates back even in Poland, and other Balkan peninsula countries, but the Greeks have somehow pushed it to a higher level. This seemingly funny, yet lucrative and exciting wedding tradition, as the name suggests, asks of the guest to dance with the bride for money. They would make a circle around her, and as the music goes guests would take turns dancing with the special lady while slipping her money or putting it in a special box. Some would just toss the money to the couple as they dance, nevertheless, the newly married couple gets to keep it all.

Sweden – Showering the bride with gold

Besides the lovely engagement ring that the bride has got form her fiancée, and some of the wedding earring or magnificent jewelry that she has lavished herself with, in Sweden she will get even more bling. The bride is showered with gold and beautiful gems just like the ones you can find on MoonMagic. However, one of the most unusual wedding tradition is giving the bride a gold coin for her right shoe by her father, and a silver one for her left shoe from her mother. In this way she is blessed with everlasting luck and blossoming income from her parent's side.

India - Hiding the groom's shoes

Amongst many other significant and utterly versatile Indian customs, hiding the groom's shoes is one of the most fascinating. Called "Joota Chupai" in Indian culture, this customs implies stealing the groom's shoes as he makes his way to an altar-like object called the mandap. Here the bride's relatives snatch the shoes, hide them, and at the end of the ceremony, he must go on a hunt for his shoes. Once he finds them he must pay a good fortune for them. This is a profound and sacred tradition that shoes a unique bonding of two future families.

Romania – Kidnapping the bride

Funny as it sounds, brides have been taken hostage for centuries in most parts of Romania. This flabbergasting wedding tradition is a common practice around this country and it's the one most guest eagerly anticipate besides the actual ceremony. Wedding guests have to "kidnap" the bride before the big ceremony, keep her in a nearby location and wait until the groom barters for her return. He offers a bottle of wine or just declare a wonderful public declaration of his love. In between there may be some drama, fun, and even excitement along with the whole deed.

China – The shooting tradition

Nobody could ever imagine that a bride is supposed to be shot on her wedding day, let alone to by her true love. One of the holy tradition of the Chinese Yugar people is to have the groom shoot his bride with three arrows. Yes, she is a target, but no, he won't use real arrowheads so there won't be a need for an ambulance. Groom needs to shoot her three times and afterward to break the bow in half, collect the fallen arrows, and later also break them. This fascinating wedding traditions embrace everlasting unity and symbolize love, devotion, and trust.

All things considered, weddings celebrate love no matter how awkward the road to it may be.