True
My Earnings
NEW
Rankings
Feed
Sessions
Spaces
Post insight
About
Sponsor a Session
FAQs
Contact
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Login
Create account
Rankings
Sessions
Spaces
About
Contact
FAQs
Terms of Use
Login
Create account
569;
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
671
9401
88
15
In
History and Culture
•
2 min read
•
Jan 27, 2023 09:14a.m.
Culture, Blackening and the Scottish View of Marriage
<span class="html-content"><p>Blackening is a traditional wedding ceremony that is performed on a bride weeks prior to her wedding day. It is a ritual and also a culture that is usually performed in the rural communities of Northeast Scotland. It is believed that the Blackening ceremony evolved during the 19th century (the period between 1800 and 1899) from a cleansing ritual referred to as "Feet Washing." </p> <p>It is initially a cleansing ritual whose aim was ro get women ready for marriage. During the feet washing, the womens' feet were darkened with Soot that is extracted from Chimney. And by the 20th century (the period between 1900 and 1999), the ritual became an outdoor event especially for couples who plan getting married during summer. </p> <p>This exercise had a lot of couples taking to their heels in rejection but yet, they were apprehended and blackened as the Scottish custom demands. Unfortunately, with the new wave of modernism, the blackening ritual is believed to have lost its relevance as a purifying ritual as it is now more of a dirtying and playful ritual. </p> <p>But on the other hand, it is very important to note that the primary reason for blackening in Scotland is that the people see it as a way of letting the couple know that marriage comes with a lot of challenges and as such, they should be ready to withstand them in order to live peacefully. </p> <p>In Scottish communities where the ritual is performed only on a bride, she is advised not to expect her marriage to be a bed of roses but rather, she should expect having dirt thrown at her. The ritual gives her a glimpse of what circumstances would surround her as a wife. And these circumstances come in form of dirts like rotten foods, dead fish, eggs and other forms of rubbish that would be thrown at her. This is followed by an exposition exercise where the bride will be paraded around the community or tied to a tree for some time. </p> <p>Despite the fact that this ritual is mainly performed on women, there are also Scottish communities where they are performed on both men and women. But in all, the ritual seeks to help the couples understand the realities of marriage and living together as couples so that they would be physically and mentally prepared to embark on such a journey. On the other hand, while most people are of the opinion that the ritual is disgusting and unhealthy, others argue that is gender biased. What is your own take on it?</p> </span>
More insights from
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Asiogu Ugochukwu
The Symbolic Representation Of Ose Oji (Alligator Pepper)...
In
History and Culture
Alligator Pepper, Mbongo spice or Ose Oji as it is called by Igbo p...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Do You Know That In Africa, Wives Could Be Stolen Legiti...
In
History and Culture
I know you would be wondering what the heck i mean by wife theft in...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Who Is Nico Mbarga?
In
History and Culture
It would be very unsurprising that not everyone reading this piece ...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Do Not Kill That Elephant, It Could Be Your Kinsman
In
History and Culture
Culture they say is man's sure bet to unlocking the keys to his exi...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
God Is A God Of All Religions, Including The African Tra...
In
History and Culture
I have always believed that the beauty of religion lies in the pe...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Nigerians And The 2023 Elections
In
Politics
Since the return to democracy on May 29, 1999, Nigeria's electoral ...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Food Culture In Nigeria: Ijaw People In Perspective
In
History and Culture
I guess we all are very familiar with the popular saying" Food is...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
The Yoruba Judicial Mechanism For Curbing Promiscuity
In
History and Culture
Generally, the African culture forbids sexual recklessness. It abho...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
The Chronicle Of The 19th Century Africa's Greatest Strat...
In
History and Culture
It is not unsurprising how Africa became the cradle of human civi...
Asiogu Ugochukwu
A Discourse On Imo's Renowned Musical Maestro - Sir Warrior
In
History and Culture
Formally known as Christognus Ezebuiro Obinna, born in 1947,, Sir W...
3
170
0
Asiogu Ugochukwu
is the most viewed writer in
History and Culture,
Leadership.
follow
Insights for you.
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
The significance of Nzu (White Chalk) in Igbo Culture
Nzu (White Chalk) is a very significant substance in Igbo culture. It is a symbol of purity, innocence, peace and progress. Nzu, as it Is cal...
1239 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
The Symbolic Representation of Ose Oji (Alligator Pepper)...
Alligator Pepper, Mbongo spice or Ose Oji as it is called by Igbo people of Southeastern Nigeria is a West African spice that is extracted from the...
383 views
3 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
A Peep At The Famous Kalacuta Republic
It would be quite unsurprising if I am told that those who were born in the late 90s and even 2000s do not know about the famous Kalacuta Republic ...
356 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
Would Nigeria's Bola A. Tinubu earn himself a spotlight i...
As we all know, before something is documented into the Guinness Book of Records, it must be either positively or negatively unusual. In fact, such...
342 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
The Yoruba Judicial Mechanism for Curbing Promiscuity
Generally, the African culture forbids sexual recklessness. It abhors sexual irresponsibility from both men and women. Little wonder, it permits po...
331 views
3 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
Imo Heritage: A Discourse on the "Jewel of the South".
Life can be well understood when it is likened to the rhythmic flow and pattern of a song. It is either the tone rises and falls or it falls and r...
326 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
LIP STRETCHING AMONG THE WOMEN OF SURMA IN ETHIOPIA AND S...
Even though I have said it once in one of my articles, I will continue to say it until it sinks into the heart and minds of every of the people. Af...
322 views
2 upvotes
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In History and Culture
Do Not Kill That Elephant, It Could Be Your Kinsman
Culture they say is man's sure bet to unlocking the keys to his existence. It is man's most significant compass to understanding his root, his past...
315 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
Jefferson Nnadiekwe
Freelance scriptwriter and creat...
Lagos, Nigeria
In History and Culture
THE OSU CASTE SYSTEM
You might have heard of the Osu caste system in Igbo land. In case you haven't, this is a system of ostracization of certain people who have been j...
295 views
1 upvote
0 comments
Asiogu Ugochukwu
Global Security enthusiast
In People and Society
When truths are lies and lies are truths
Often times, I have asked myself, friends and even colleagues "what really is the best way to live life meaningfully?" The fact that not even one o...
277 views
4 upvotes
0 comments
×
Comments
Share thread
Refresh
×
cancel
What is TwoCents?
×
×
Share the feed
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
Share this post
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
×
Insights
Views
Upvotes
Comments
Contributor score
Share this post
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
Share this post
×
Copy link
Twitter
Facebook
LinkedIn
Whatsapp
Crop photo.
If "Crop" and "Cancel" buttons are not visible, scroll down.
×
The photo you are trying to upload is too large.
Please upload a photo smaller than 4MB.
×
The file you are trying to upload is not an image.
Please upload an image of the following types - PNG, JPEG, JPG, GIF, BMP
×
For best results, be as descriptive as possible. Please refrain from using explicit, obscene or hateful words.
Hyper-realistic
Turning on "Hyper-realistic" will generate hyper-real and dramatic images. Leaving it off will produce more natural, less hyper-real looking images.
Generate Image
Use Image
Clear Image
At least 800 characters. You can save your insight as a draft and it will update as you type.
×
Login to share insight
×
Oops!
Looks like
isn't setup to receive tips.
Be sure to check back later!
Close
×
Oops!
Looks like you have not setup your account to send and receieve tips.
No worries!
Click here to add your card details
Be sure to contact us if you have any questions!
×
Let
know you love
their content by sending a tip!
Show support.
Support beyond an upvote, comment or share.
Help grow TwoCents.
Encouraging other writers ensures quality insights.
Send Online
Copy tip link
Close