How do wedding traditions differ around the world?

The answer

Wedding traditions reflect deep cultural values about family, luck, and partnership. In Hindu weddings, the couple walks around a sacred fire seven times (saptapadi), each circuit representing a marital vow. Korean brides traditionally wear red and the groom rides a white horse to the ceremony. In Maasai culture, the bride's father blesses her by spitting on her head and breasts. Swedish brides carry coins from each parent in their shoes for prosperity. In Chinese tradition, a bride wears red for luck and the couple serves tea to both families. Some Scottish weddings include a 'blackening,' where the couple is covered in treacle, flour, and feathers before the ceremony. These diverse rituals all serve to publicly affirm the union and integrate the couple into their community.