Wedding may be a universal celebration, but sometimes it becomes an unbelievably crazy adventure. Though the Indian weddings today are changing rapidly, the traditional approach is still maintained in most of the Indian families. Even the first night that the bride and the groom spend together as newlyweds is also ruled by many traditional stereotypes. As you read through this list of strange wedding night (Suhagraat) customs just think to yourself – who's the weird one?
Superstitions run rampant
For all the beliefs that lead to nice traditions, there are ten times as many superstitions that would make for a strange wedding night. And it's not just us…there are not-so-logical Suhagraat customs that are followed all across the world. One says that pound of Limburger cheese placed under the pillows of the newlyweds on their wedding night will bring lots of children. It's hard to imagine that smelly cheese could be that much of an aphrodisiac!
There's another great one that says the first person to go to sleep on your wedding night will be the first to die. Just what everyone wants to think about on the happiest day of their lives: their own death!
Floral decoration
It has been an age-old tradition that the couple's room be decorated with heavily fragrant, fresh flowers for their suhagraat. It is believed that the sweet, natural fragrance of the flowers creates a romantic mood for the couples to begin the new chapter in their life together. Usually the preferred flowers are rajnigandha (tuberose), roses and jasmines as these have an exotic aroma, and are believed to leave an aphrodisiac effect on the couple.
Bribe at the door!
Suhagraat is also the night where the relatives and friends make fun of the groom, teasing him for his impatience in joining his bride. They do not allow him to leave them till quite late. Even then, the sisters or other younger female relatives of the groom delay him further by putting across their demand, which can be considered like a 'through fare' for going to his room. There is much fun and laughter while the poor groom negotiates with his sisters before reluctantly handing over their gifts.
The Ghunghat (Veil)
One of the traditional stereotypes of the suhagraat is that the bride is allowed entry in the room much before the groom. She is allowed some time alone to freshen up. Dressed in the Indian bridal attire, it is a tradition for the bride to cover her face with a ghunghat (veil), and wait for her husband. The groom then comes in the room and unveils the bride. This is also known as the "muh dikhai", where the groom gifts his bride something special as a memento.
A glass of Milk
According to Hindu Dharma, marriage is a union of two souls such that the individual bodies remain as separate entities but the souls merge into one. On the wedding night, the newly weds are traditionally given a glass of milk to which crushed almond and pepper has been mixed to enhance the first night experience. Other aphrodisiac decoctions from the Kama Sutra include fresh fennel juice with milk as well as adding honey, licorice and sugar to milk.
According to certain ancient scriptures and texts, the bride and the groom share a glass of saffron, fennel flavoured, or spiced, milk to replenish their energy, after the tiring wedding rituals. This milk is also considered as an aphrodisiac, which can ensure that the couples enjoy their first night together.
Science behind serving milk on Suhagraat
Hinduism is perhaps the oldest religion in the world, with sacred texts estimated to date back to 3000 B.C. Many of its traditions have lasted for eons, with origins lost in time. A Hindu wedding, one of the most sacred of rites, incorporates many of these timeless rituals and customs. And one such tradition is that of serving the newly-weds (specifically the groom) with a glass of milk on their wedding night. Needless to mention but this tradition is extremely popular, courtesy Bollywood movies and TV serials.
A fresh, white sheet!
Here is one of those, age-old popular tradition that has (thankfully) vanished, now. As we all know, Indian traditions place a lot of emphasis on abstaining from pre-marital sex. Earlier, in many households, a white bedsheet was placed on the bed of the newlyweds for their first night, as the soiled bedding was considered to be the proof of a bride's virginity. Well, good for our society that it realised this is one of the most absurd (and, disrespectful) things to do to a woman!
Wedding night traditions from around the world
Weddings are occasions of lasting traditions and rituals. All over the world, people's beliefs, culture and history has affected this memorable event. It is common knowledge that wedding ceremonies are different all over the world, but did you know that the diversity extends even on the wedding night? Read this to know the interesting activities that couples, families and friends do before letting the newlyweds reach a night of wedding bliss!
Wedding night traditions from around the world
It is customary in an American wedding for the bride and groom to hop into a get-away car with tin cans attached to the rear of the car, off to their secret honeymoon, immediately after the wedding. Did you know that this rooted from escaping a Celtic wedding night tradition?
In Gaelic cultures, it was a tradition for friends and family of the couple to mess with the couple's wedding night. In the olden days, when couples spend their wedding night in a barn, girl friends of the bride would dress her for bed and ask each of the male guests to kiss her good night. The friends would do other things to prevent the groom from seeing her new wife. Even if the couple finally comes together, they would disturb the union by making noise.
The couple waits for everyone to get too drunk to eventually leave them alone. This kind of prank is something that newly weds want to get away from, thus, they keep their honeymoon destination a secret and speed away after the wedding.
More Celtic wedding night ritual come from Scotland: sleeping in the barn on the first night, sprinkling water on the marriage bed for luck and staying for a week with the bride's parents before moving into the newlywed's home.
The Germans and the French do a similar tradition of "disturbing" the wedding night, called Chiverie, known in the US as Shivaree. They make noise outside the place where the couple spends their first night together. Some even play around with the room where they will stay, like put plenty of balloons, spread food all over the bed, and hide alarm clock everywhere, just for fun.
The Romans believed that it was bad fortune when the bride stumbles when entering the newlywed's house for the first time. Thus, after the wedding, male friends of the couple would carry her over the doorstep. At present, the groom is expected to do the job himself.
In Benin, western Africa, they value virginity. The bride's mother rewards her with cash if she's a virgin at their wedding night! In the morning, the sheets that the couples used are inspected for bloodstains. Some mothers even fly the flag out the window, showing off their daughter's bloodstained nightgown. Seriously!
For the Chinese, at the night of the wedding, candles designed with a phoenix and a dragon is lit to drive the evil spirit away. The newlyweds will drink wine from goblets tied together with a red ribbon, while arms intertwined. Then the bride will be given half-raw dumplings, which symbolize prosperity.
Marquesasian (from Polynesia) brides have a notable wedding night ritual: they are expected to have sex with all the male guests and then saving the groom for last. Now that can make your wedding night … extremely unforgettable!
These are customs, some we have heard of and some we haven't known yet. Wherever side of the world you are, there would always be that bit of peculiar custom you have that people on your part of the world do during weddings. It adds color to the greatly serious affair, which is getting married!
