For those unaware, a blackening is a Scottish pre-wedding ritual where the engaged couple is kidnapped and covered in messy substances like treacle, flour, feathers, rotten eggs and in this case plenty of molasses to ward off evil spirits and bring them luck for their marriage. While traditionally for women, the custom now often involves both the bride and/or groom and takes place mainly in rural areas, where the couple is then paraded through town before ending with a large feast. There is also alchol involved
