In Scotland, the most famous, yet ridiculous pre-nuptial ritual that exists today is known as the “Blackening of the Bride”. This ceremony has been performed for many generations and involves the bride and groom being “blackened” as they are coated in tacky substances such as tar, soot, and treacle. Then, the couple is covered in flour or feathers and mounted upon a cart to be marched around various streets of the city by their friends and family, accompanied by loud cheering to commemorate their wedding day.
Many variations of this ritual have been acknowledged, but the most common finale is when the soon to be married couple is tied to a lamppost after large consumptions of alcohol to end the night. In addition, the significance of the “blackening” has been associated with feet and hair washing rituals to further understand how the bizarre event was created.
To begin, Scottish
…show more content…
The rite of passage is performed to ensure unity between the couple and their social connections, but as well as preserving and continuing the “Blackening of the Bride” for future generations.
Lastly, there have been many unanswered questions about the origin of this ritual, but many stories and theories have attempted to prove the original intent of this event. For instance, the rite of passage was believed to defend the bride from any evil spirits that can cause trouble on her wedding day. Moreover, ancient Scottish wedding traditions also dated back to when the bride or groom would be thrown into the sea as their cleansing treatment from all the substances.
The Scottish have a truly bizarre way of participating in tradition, but this goes to show how they appreciate the positive aspects of life to undergo a fun, yet messy custom to continue in the steps of their ancient