'Blackenings' are a ritual still performed with great gusto - unless you are the unlucky groom-to-be! He is captured by his friends and is stripped to the waist before bound and 'blackened' by using substances such as feathers, treacle, soot and flour! He is then paraded through the village whilst his friends make as much noise as possible to make the experience as embarrassing as possible for the unlucky groom. In some parts of Scotland, this can happen to the bride too!