How would you feel if your feet were beaten with some wooden rods or sticks before your in-laws set you free to live freely with your wife? This is the case in South Korea! Beating the groom’s feet, traditionally known amongst South Koreans as Falaka, is meant to be a funny tradition as opposed to something overly serious.
So What Happens?
The groom’s shoes and socks are taken off to expose his soles and he is made to lay flat on the floor or table where his feet are held up with a stick or cloth. His ankles are held together by members of the family or even groomsmen in order to avoid falling out of place. These same guys take turns beating him with a regular wooden stick, cane or a dried fish that’s thick enough to exert some force.
Why this tradition?
The tradition is performed to quiz his attention and memory as the groom is asked questions in between the beatings. They also believe that the groom will become stronger for his wedding night with this exercise. Its so important that it’s never missed out at weddings in this region.
Can’t imagine what this looks like? Watch this video to get the real visuals at a real wedding:
Never mind the squeals from the groom, there’s lots of laughter and they look like they are having a ball. How would you feel if something like this were to be adopted by Nigeria; would you understand it as banter or just unnecessary? The truth is, what is tradition to a set of people is unusual to others.