Friends of the groom plant the Turkish flag, which features a red crescent and star, in the ground at his home on the day he is to wed. Depending on the area, objects like fruit, vegetables, and even mirrors are placed on top, signifying that the wedding ceremony has begun.

24) Venezuela: Couple Leaves Before the End of the Reception

Don’t wait until the reception’s over to chat up a Venezuelan couple—they could be long gone. It is good luck for the newlyweds to sneak away before the party has come to an end without getting caught; it’s also good luck for whichever guest catches on that they’re gone.

25) Wales: Myrtle in the Bridal Bouquet

Welsh brides think not only of themselves on their wedding day, but also of their bridal party. The

 bridal bouquet includes myrtle, an herb that symbolizes love, and the bride gives a cutting to each of her bridesmaids. (Kate Middleton even included myrtle in her bouquet!) The theory goes that if a bridesmaid plants the myrtle cutting and it blooms, she’ll be the next bride.

26) Mongolia: Chicken Liver Tradition

A Mongolian couple hoping to set a wedding date must first kill a baby chicken and cut it apart, holding the knife together, to find a healthy liver. They keep at it until they’re successful.

27) China: Three Dresses

In China, brides typically walk down the aisle in a slim-fitting, embroidered dress, called a traditional qipao or cheongsam. For the reception, they typically change into a more decked-out gown with Western flair. But the bridal fashion show doesn’t end there. To cap the night, Chinese brides often make a final change into a cocktail dress. Triple the dresses, triple the fun!

28) Ireland: Keep One Foot on the Ground During First Dance

In Ireland, when the bride and groom are dancing, the bride must keep at least one foot on the floor at all times. Irish folklore states that if she doesn’t, evil fairies will come and sweep her away.

29) India: Mehndi

Right before the wedding, it’s common for Indian women to gather their closest girlfriends and sit for hours at a time to have their skin intricately painted, in tattoo fashion, with mehndi a type of paint made from henna. The elaborate and beautiful skin art lasts about two weeks.

30) French Polynesia: Newlyweds Step on Relatives

On the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, once the wedding has come to an end, the relatives of the bride lay side-by-side, face down on the ground, while the bride and groom walk over them like a human rug.

31) China: Crying Before Wedding

Brides of the Tujia people in China take tears of joy to a whole different level. Starting one month in advance, the bride starts to cry for one hour every day. Ten days into the waterworks, her mother joins the picture, and 10 days after that, her grandma does the same. By the end of the month, every female in the family is crying alongside the bride. The tradition is believed to be an expression of joy, as the women weep in different tones, reminiscent of a song.

32) Germany: Sawing a Log

After getting married, couples in Germany are presented with a large log and a saw. By sawing the log in half as a team, it is believed they are proving their ability to work together in overcoming tough obstacles.

33) Peru: Cake Pull

In Peruvian weddings, the cake is typically assembled with ribbons attached to charms, one of which is a fake wedding ring. During the reception, all the single women in attendance participate in the “cake pull.” Each participant grabs a ribbon, and the single lady who pulls out the fake wedding ring, per tradition, will be the next to get married.