Throughout history, various cultures have had strange requirements of their women. But none perhaps as strange as the custom of crying before marriage, as followed in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province. According to the custom, it is mandatory for a bride to cry at her own wedding, whether she likes it or not.

The crying marriage ritual was at its peak during the early 17th century and remained so until the end of the Qing dynasty in 1911. It is said to have originated during the Warring States Period (475 to 221 BC), when historical records reveal that the princess of the Zhao State was to be married into the Yan State. At the moment of the princess’ departure, her mother is said to have cried at her feet, asking her to return home as soon as possible. This is said to be the first crying marriage ever. Although the custom is not as popular now as it used to be, there are still a large number of families that practice it with gusto. In fact, it is a necessary procedure for marriage among the Tujia people, in China’s Sichuan Province. The ritual itself is pretty simple – the bride has got to shed tears. If she doesn’t or is unable to, her neighbors will look down upon her as one of poor breeding. Worse still, she could even become the laughing stock of her village. In one extreme case, the bride was beaten by her mother for not crying at the wedding. Perhaps the girl was too happy to be free from her mother?

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/strange-wedding-customs-the-crying-ritual-of-the-tujia-people.html

Tujia's ceremony of “crying and marrying” usually starts three or seven days ahead of the wedding. Some may open the prelude half a month, a month and even three months ahead. However, in the very beginning, the crying is off and on. When relatives, friends and neighbors come with gifts to have a visit, the bride cries as gratitude etiquette. The ceremony reaches the climax, from the former night of the wedding to the next morning before the bride getting on the bridal chair. The crying during this period must go through according to the traditional etiquette. Random crying is not allowed. Generally speaking, the crying and singing content included “crying for parents”, “crying for brothers and sisters-in-law”, “crying for uncles”, “crying for escorting guests”, “crying for the matchmaker”, “crying when combing hair”, “crying for ancestors”, “crying when getting on the sedan chair’ and so on. Lyrics are either passed down one generation after another, or created improvisationally by the bride and her “crying” sisters. The main theme is to extend gratitude for parents’ bringing up and the love and care from brothers and sisters. Some themes are to show their dissatisfaction with marriage and hatred for the mismatch made by the matchmaker and so on.