A century ago if anyone had somehow visited the recreational scene of 2019 and run across ax throwing, I suspect they might have laughed. How could this be considered sport? Wielding an iron blade was work, and perilous at that. My grandparents' backs were bent over splitting firewood, and pumping water. There was no need to fabricate fresh versions of exertion.
I read that one tradition at German weddings is for the couple to pull out a lumberjack sized saw and together slice a hunk of wood. It is intended to be the first of many chances to work cooperatively. It's probably a great photo op, right there with stuffing cake in each other's mouths. Not that John and I did that either.
Marriage is packed with opportunities to partner up, be it for yard work, or Saturday chores, or the birth of a baby. Inevitably the workload is sometimes skewed, as in the case of labor, but ideally there is balance over a lifetime.
A wedding tradition in Spain is that the bridal party chops up the groom's tie, selling pieces to the guests to raise money for the new couple.
Then there is a custom in Korea of holding down the groom and whacking his feet with a fish. In between beatings you pepper him with questions, and the combination is supposed to improve his memory and his stamina.
John and I were barefoot at our own ceremony. But no one threw a fish at us.
