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Wedding traditions are far stranger than you might imagine. While we're familiar with white dresses, something borrowed and something blue, these customs barely scratch the surface of matrimonial practices worldwide.
Did you know the pristine white wedding dress only became tradition in 1840 when Queen Victoria made it fashionable? Before then, brides simply wore their best dresses, regardless of color, because clothes were expensive and the concept of a single-use garment was impractical for most people. That beautiful tradition you cherish might be younger than your great-grandmother!
The role of the "best man" has an even darker history. Far from being just a supportive friend, he was originally a skilled swordsman whose primary duty was to help the groom kidnap the bride from disapproving families or rival suitors. The term "best" referred to his combat prowess, not his friendship status. This reveals how marriage was often less about mutual consent and more about property acquisition.
Around the world, wedding rituals range from charming to downright bizarre. French traditions include newlyweds consuming a mixture of leftover food and alcohol from a toilet bowl for "strength." The Tadong community in Indonesia prohibits couples from using the bathroom for three days after marriage, believing this ensures harmony. Some Kenyan fathers spit on their daughters as a blessing before the ceremony. Meanwhile, Czech weddings might involve placing a borrowed infant on the couple's bed for fertility, and Fijian grooms must present their future father-in-law with a whale's tooth as a sign of respect.
Marriage ceremonies fundamentally began as contractual arrangements rather than celebrations of love, which explains why so many traditional practices revolve around property exchange, fertility rituals, and alliance-building instead of emotional connection. The integration of romantic love into marriage is relatively recent in human history.
Join us as we explore these fascinating traditions that showcase how marriage practices continue to evolve across cultures and throughout time. Whether you're planning your own wedding or simply curious about human customs, you'll never look at matrimony the same way again after hearing these stories.

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