I’ve got weddings on my mind as I head to Rehoboth Beach to celebrate the launch of Wedding Seasons, a compelling new beach read from the authors of Mindful Writers Retreat.
If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you might remember my daughter and son-in-law’s spectacular wedding at a castle in Assisi, Italy. They beautifully blended their heritages—literally tying the knot in a British Pagan handfasting ceremony, having a big wedding party in true American style, and, of course, indulging in a lavish Italian feast.
Two years later, my screensaver is still a photo of them laughing—a spontaneous, joyful moment that’s far from a typical posed shot. But did you know that in Congo, the bride and groom are expected to keep a straight face throughout their wedding day? Even the slightest grin would suggest they’re not serious about their commitment. I can’t imagine not cracking a smile on such a happy day!
In Japan, there’s a wedding tradition that might wipe the smile off some faces. The bride wears a hood called a Tsunokakushi to hide her ‘horns of jealousy’ toward her groom’s mother. This one made me think about the complex emotions that marriage can stir up.
In the Western world, it’s only in the last few hundred years that love has played a significant role in choosing a spouse. Before that, marriages were more like business transactions, often arranged by families with little regard for personal feelings—especially those of women. The idea of marrying for love didn’t really take hold until the 18th and 19th centuries, and dating as we know it didn’t become common until the 1920s.
This lack of love might have some influence over a pre-wedding ritual among the Tujia people in China. They have a month-long crying tradition, where the bride starts crying for an hour each day, a month before the ceremony. Ten days later, her mother joins in, followed by her grandmother. I can’t help wondering how puffy their eyes must get!
For some Hindu women in India, a dowry isn’t always enough to seal a wedding arrangement. Women born under certain astrological signs are considered unlucky, but they can cleanse this bad luck by first marrying a tree—yes, a tree—before marrying their human partner.
Then there’s a Swedish tradition that adds a playful twist to the reception. Whenever a newlywed leaves the room, guests are free to sneak a kiss with the one who stays behind. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t leave the room!
Perhaps in counter-culture to centuries of male dominance, in Russia, the family’s head is determined by who bites the largest chunk of Karavay, a special bread.
Meanwhile, in French Polynesia, the bride and groom exert equal dominance over their guests by stomping on them as they lay on the ground.
Weddings are as diverse as the cultures that celebrate them, each with its own unique twist on the age-old tradition of tying the knot. As I head to the beach to celebrate my latest short story, A Wedding Vow, I’m reminded that every wedding, like every marriage, is a story in itself—full of joy, quirks, and moments that make life unforgettable.