A Scot has highlighted a unique wedding tradition from the north that brings good luck, known as the 'blackening'. This pre-nuptial ritual, carried out weeks or days before the big day, involves friends and family covering the bride or groom in sticky substances like treacle or syrup, followed by flour or feathers, before parading them around the local town.
What Happens During a Blackening?
The tradition is more common in rural parts of the Highlands and Orkney. The purpose is to ward off evil and spread good luck for a long and happy marriage. A recent blackening in Kirkwall, Orkney, was shared on Instagram by user @lauramack_adventure, showing the bridal party covered in sticky substances and cling filmed to a roundabout.
Laura said: "Welcome to the Scottish wedding tradition of a blackening. I stumbled across this one when I was last in Orkney. Weeks before the big day, friends and family abduct the bride. And in this case, the bridesmaids and mum too. They're dosed in the stickiest stuff imaginable. Think treacle, flour and feathers. Paraded through the streets on the back of a truck with a whole lot of clanging pots, and finally cling filmed to the roundabout in Kirkwall. It's loud, it's messy, and yes it's completely affectionate."
Origins of the Blackening
The blackening ritual is said to have originally begun as a cleansing ritual among farming communities of rural Scotland to prepare women for marriage. At the time, it involved washing feet after blackening them with soot from the chimney. The ritual has now evolved into a day of mess, fun, and laughter.
Public Reactions
Since the video was uploaded, Scots have shared their own experiences. One recalled: "I remember myself and other members of our dental team doing this to two dental nurses (at different times) in Brechin. We got them good, eggs the lot." Another viewer added: "We got to see this last summer in Kirkwall when we were visiting." Others noted the ritual also takes place in Wick and Nairn, where couples are made to go around local pubs.
A Scot recalled a groom's experience: "I remember hearing about a guy in Kilmarnock who got this done, or something similar. He got stripped naked, tied to a lamppost and covered in oil and feathers, and goodness knows what else." A fourth viewer mentioned: "It was only done to the men in our family. Never seen it done to women before and I'm from Fife!"
