The same idea in 20 places, grouped by region. Each entry is a short portrait; follow the link for the full tradition.
A Hindu wedding may include a sangeet, a mehndi night, a baraat procession with the groom on a horse, and the saptapadi, seven steps around the sacred fire. The bride wears red or another rich colour, with gold and a mangalsutra.
Read: Hindu weddingThe nikah is the Muslim contract, followed by the mehndi, the barat, and the valima feast hosted by the groom's family. Brides wear red or gold gharara or lehenga and heavy jewellery.
Read: Pakistani weddingWeddings include sponsors, ninongs and ninangs, a cord and a veil binding the couple, coins given to the bride and the money dance. A wedding feast of lechon is typical.
Read: Filipino wedding customsJavanese weddings include the siraman bath, the midodareni night before and the breaking of an egg. Balinese weddings are held with offerings at the temple, and Minangkabau brides wear a golden headdress.
Javanese culture, being writtenThe bride wears red, a tea ceremony shows respect to parents, and guests give money in red envelopes at the banquet. The date is chosen by an almanac, and there are door-games where the groom must win entry.
Read: Traditional Chinese marriageA Shinto wedding has a bride in a white kimono, shiromuku, a sharing of sake in the san-san-kudo ritual and a banquet. Many couples also hold a Western-style ceremony.
Marriage in Japan, being writtenThe traditional pyebaek ceremony has the bride bow to the groom's parents, who throw dates and chestnuts into her skirt, wishing her many children. The couple wear hanbok.
Read: Marriage in KoreaA Georgian wedding includes a supra, a long feast led by a toastmaster, and the dance of the couple, kartuli. Guests give toasts to the couple's future, to their parents and to the ancestors.
Supra, being writtenThe couple marries under a chuppah, a canopy, with seven blessings, a ring and the breaking of a glass, followed by dancing with the couple lifted on chairs. Before the ceremony the couple do not see each other for a week, and the groom covers the bride's face with a veil in the badeken.
Jewish wedding, being writtenThe marriage contract, katb al-kitab, is signed before the families, and the celebration includes henna for the bride, a feast, music with a daf and a procession called a zaffa in Lebanon and Egypt. The bride's female relatives sing and dance at the henna party, and the groom's family brings gifts of gold.
Read: ZaffaThe Moroccan bride changes dress several times in the evening, carried on an amariya, a decorated platform, and wears henna and gold. Milk and dates are offered to welcome her.
Read: NegafaYoruba and Igbo weddings are splendid, with an introduction ceremony, matching cloth, the aso ebi, and the bride's family bringing a list of gifts. Guests spray money on the dancing couple.
Yoruba traditional wedding, being writtenThe knocking, kookoo ko, is the formal introduction of the groom's family, with drinks, a bride price and kente cloth for the couple. A big reception follows.
Culture of Ghana, being writtenThe Orthodox wedding includes a procession, a feast with doro wat and injera and traditional dances, and the couple wear white cotton with embroidered borders. The bride's family hold a melse.
Read: Wedding customs in EthiopiaThe couple are crowned with stefana, a pair of wreaths joined by a ribbon, in the Orthodox ceremony, and guests throw rice and sugared almonds. The wedding dance, with plate smashing in the past, is a joyful sight.
Stefana, being writtenA white dress, the bride's something old, new, borrowed and blue, the best man's speech, confetti and a cake are all part of a typical British wedding. In Scotland, a ceilidh follows.
Wedding, being writtenShowers, the rehearsal dinner, the processional, the first dance and the bouquet toss mark the American wedding. Many couples also add a jumping of the broom, a tradition of African American heritage.
Read: Jumping the broomA lazo, a large rosary or cord, is draped over the couple's shoulders, and the groom gives the bride thirteen coins, arras. The dollar dance and mariachi music are included in many weddings.
Read: Wedding cordGuests receive bem-casados, small sponge cakes filled with dulce de leche, wrapped as favours and meant to bring the couple a happy marriage. Godparents, padrinhos, play a role and sometimes pay for part of the celebration.
List of Brazilian sweets and desserts, being writtenFijian weddings involve a presentation of whale's tooth, tabua, and mats and food between families, and Indo-Fijian weddings follow Hindu and Muslim customs with a lively feast and dancing. The couple are seated on mats on a raised platform, and the community brings food and gifts for the new household.
Read: TabuaWritten by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.