Many rituals are performed around the world regarding marriage. There are many rituals, from haldi, mehendi, sangeet, wedding, shoe-printing, wedding night to muh dikhai, but there is a country from where we get to hear about strange customs regarding marriage every day.
Yes, we are talking about China. While China is at the forefront in terms of technology, many strange things are also heard here.
Here the bride’s teeth are broken before marriage. This may sound shocking, but this tradition has been followed in a tribe of China for a long time. Let us know about this custom-
Where is this unique tradition from?
This ritual is associated with the Gelao tribe of China. Gelao people mainly live in the southern part of China, especially Guizhou province. Apart from this, people of this community are also found in Vietnam. This tribe is famous all over the world for its old traditions and distinct identity.
Why were teeth broken before marriage?
In the Gelao community, it was believed that if one or two of the bride’s upper front teeth were not broken before marriage, it could have a bad effect on the groom or his family. Some people believed that this affects the well-being of the family and the future generations. Because of this fear and belief, this ritual was considered necessary.
When was this ritual performed?
It is said that when a girl turns 20, preparations for her marriage start. This ritual was performed during that time. It was also considered a sign that the girl was now ready for marriage and had come out of childhood.
What was the process of breaking teeth like?
The girl’s maternal uncle played an important role in this ritual. According to tradition, maternal uncle was called home with respect. A small hammer was used to gently break one or two of the bride’s upper front teeth. This work was done very carefully, so that there was not much injury.
Immediately after losing a tooth, a special kind of medicine or powder was applied on the gums, so that the wound heals quickly and there is no infection.
What is the folk tale behind this?
There is also an old story related to this tradition. It is said that long ago a Gelao woman was collecting fruits for her community before her wedding. During this time she fell from the rock and her front teeth were broken. Impressed by his bravery and dedication, the community accepted this incident as a mark of respect and gradually it became a ritual.
Is this tradition still followed today?
This ritual has seen many changes over time. Nowadays, most of the people of Gelao community do not follow it practically. In many places this ritual has remained only in a symbolic form or has been stopped completely.
Although this tradition may seem strange or painful to the outside world, for the Gelao community it has been a part of their culture, identity and history.