I am not sure of the L plate issue but here are a few hen night traditions from around the world...
Austria: The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.
Cyprus: Money is pinned to the bride and groom throughout their first dance at most wedding receptions. The 'pin money' is used by the couple to help get them started in their new life together.
England: Tying shoes to the cars of newlyweds began in England during the Tudor period. Originally, wedding reception guests threw shoes at the newlyweds as they were leaving the church for good luck. The modern tradition is to tie shoes to the honeymoon vehicle. The English consider rain on a wedding day a sign of good fortune. ~ That�s lucky
Germany: In some areas friends kidnap the bride and the groom has to find her. Normally, he has to search in a lot of pubs and invite all people in there (or pay the whole bill). Sometimes this ritual ends badly.
Holland: The roots of the customary bridal shower originated in Holland. If a Dutch bride was father did not approve of her choice in husbands, he would not offer a dowry. Her friends would then "shower" her with gifts so she could still be married to her groom, without her fathers help.
India: Sweets, eggs, and money are woven into to wedding themes of India. They symbolize, respectively, a sweet life, fertility, and prosperity.
Scotland: Following the vows the groom often pins a strip of his clan�s tartan colors to the bride�s wedding dress to signify that she is now a member of his clan.
Wales: It is a marriage custom, in Wales, for the bride's family to kidnap her just before the wedding ceremony. The groom and his family follow in pursuit and whoever rescues the bride-to-be will marry within a year. (This kidnapping seems very popular).
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21:27 Sun 03rd Aug 2008