Blackening, an Odd Tradition

By now most of you will know I’m Scottish, if you didn’t already know then you know now. As a Scot I’m accustomed to our rather strange but fun-loving traditions. I’ll tell you about one which seems to have gone unnoticed in the wider world and maybe for good reason; Blackening.

Don’t worry, it’s not a racial tradition as much as it sounds like it (for once). Blackening is probably one of the strangest traditions on the book where no one gets mutilated, drunk as a skunk or made to dance in a circle holding hands. It’s also a pretty regionalised tradition, mostly happening around Aberdeenshire and the surrounding area.

It all starts when two people decide to get married. Once they have set the date then it’s up to the family and friends of the couple (but mostly aimed at the bride) to organise the Blackening. Normally it’s set for a couple of days or weeks before the wedding, similar in style to Hen Nights (Bachelorette Parties) and Stag Dos (Bachelor Parties).

The bride or groom are pounced on by surprise. They are then covered with everything possible; eggs, feathers, porridge, soup, syrups and even soot (when the friends and family are extra mean).

They are then loaded onto the back of a open-pickup or truck where the family and friends will join them. The driver will then drive the vehicle around the town in a form of ‘parade’ showing the town goers the soon to be married person or couple. The aim these days is to pretty much embarrass the poor souls. If that wasn’t enough, the family and friends will usually have utensils in the form of wooden planks/sticks and bricks which they use to hit the side of the truck to make as much noise as possible. Drawing even more attention to them as they go by. You might of guessed that most trucks they use are from building sites, the banging of bricks doesn’t do much damage.

To add a little more insult to injury they will then parade them in many different local pubs where the regulars will usually buy them a couple of drinks as a sign of congratulations. Before they are whisked off to another pub for some more humiliation. This part really seems to be about just getting free drinks or as many drinks in as possible, so I suppose this is another alcohol based Scottish tradition…

Most people take days to wash out all of the gunk and junk, the smell will stick to them for a while too. It’s all in good fun and about celebrating two people together!

Ah, Scotland…