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EveryShaadi

All wedding traditions

674 traditions so far, best known first. 108 more are on the list to be written. Filter by region, kind and stage of the wedding.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

🇮🇹 ItalyFescennine VersesFescennina carmina Bawdy wedding songs from Ancient Rome that evolved into satire and comic drama.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan and 1 moreKyz kuu A horse race where a man chases a woman to win a kiss or faces her whip if he failsPlay · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 IndiaOppanaഒപ്പന A circle dance and song tradition of the Mappila Muslim community in Kerala weddingsPerformance · Engagement and betrothal

🇲🇦 Imilchil, MoroccoImilchil Marriage FestivalAgdoud N'Oulmghenni A Berber marriage festival in Morocco where tribes gather to arrange unions and celebrate with music and dance.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇲🇱 MaliWeddings in Mali Multi-day Malian wedding traditions blending Islamic rites, civil law, and local customs with bazin attire.Rite · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 IndiaHindi wedding songs Film and folk music that accompanies the stages of a North Indian Hindu wedding.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇲🇽 Oaxaca, MexicoOaxacan wedding A multi-day Catholic celebration in Oaxaca featuring mole, mezcal, and communal dancing.Feast custom · Engagement and betrothal

🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreAssyrian wedding Marriage ceremonies blending ancient Assyrian rites with modern cultural practices among the Assyrian people.Rite · Finding a match

🇵🇱 Poland and 1 moreBadchenבּדחן (badkhn) The Ashkenazi Jewish wedding entertainer and master of ceremonies who guides the couple through ritual stages with song Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇦🇿 AzerbaijanAzerbaijani wedding traditionsAzərbaycanın toy adətləri The multi-step family rituals of Azerbaijani weddings, from matchmaking to the henna night.Rite · Finding a match

🇱🇹 Lithuania and 1 moreLithuanian wedding songsvestuvinės dainos The polyphonic songs and weeping rituals that mark a Lithuanian bride's transition to her new family.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇩🇪 GermanyWedding Quodlibet A lighthearted musical piece by J.S. Bach performed at weddings in early 18th-century Germany.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇵🇭 Cebu, PhilippinesCourtship in the Philippines A traditional Filipino courtship marked by serenade, service, and family involvement.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇩🇪 GermanyLandshut WeddingLandshuter Hochzeit A four-year historical pageant in Bavaria re-enacting the 1475 royal marriage of George and Hedwig.Setting · Engagement and betrothal

🇺🇬 UgandaOkeme A lively Lango folk dance performed at weddings to bring the community together.Performance · Engagement and betrothal 🇨🇳 ChinaHebao荷包 (Hébāo) A traditional Chinese embroidered pouch used for gifts, medicine, and romantic tokens.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇺🇬 UgandaLarakaraka An Acholi courtship dance where young men display agility to attract a partner.Play · Engagement and betrothal

🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער The instrumental dance music played by Ashkenazi Jewish musicians at weddings in Eastern Europe and beyondPerformance · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 morePantunڤنتون A Malayic oral poetry form used in wedding greetings and daily communication to express ideas through rhyme.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇵🇭 Cebu, PhilippinesHarana A traditional Filipino courtship serenade where a suitor sings beneath a woman's window at night.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער The instrumental wedding music of Ashkenazi Jews, blending Eastern European and Jewish ritual melodies.Performance · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇬 UgandaNaleyo A courtship dance of the Karamojong people where men and women jump facing each other to find partners.Performance · Engagement and betrothal 🇲🇺 Mauritius and 1 moreGeet-Gawai𑂏𑂲𑂞 𑂏𑂫𑂰𑂆 (Bhojpuri) A pre-wedding ritual of Bhojpuri-speaking people in Mauritius featuring songs and dance.Performance · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇬 UgandaGaze A traditional dance of the Lugbara people in Northern Uganda performed at weddings and festivalsPerformance · Engagement and betrothal

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Landshut Wedding: Oktobersonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Harana: Markytour777, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Lithuanian wedding songs: Gailė Paštukaitė, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Pantun: Nurmalinda Maharfar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Imilchil Marriage Festival: Zakaria ElQotbi, CC BY 2.0, source
Azerbaijani wedding traditions: Azim Azimzadeh, Public domain, source
Klezmer: Syrena Records (Warsaw), Public domain, source
Oaxacan wedding: Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Larakaraka: Tabwoch, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Okeme: Emma Oruk, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Wedding Quodlibet: Aschroet, CC0, source
Courtship in the Philippines: Markytour777, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Weddings in Mali: HawaG, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Oppana: Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kyz kuu: SSGT JEREMY T. LOCK, Public domain, source
Badchen: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Klezmer: Unknown artist identified as "M.D.", Public domain, source
Assyrian wedding: Yucalyptus, CC0, source

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.