A long-standing Nigerian wedding tradition is to spray money on the bride. This can be done at any time, although when the newlyweds step onto the dance floor is a popular moment. Money is usually thrown by older guests.
The bridesmaids are tasked with collecting all of the thrown money. Certain people attend ceremonies in Nigeria just to partake in this interesting practice.
At grandly-organised weddings, burials, child naming or dedications, and birthdays, people—regardless of financial status—come forward while dancing to rain money on those on the dance floor.
Of course, only crisp notes are encouraged. Reasons for the act (or art) of spraying money include portraying the social status of those being celebrated, showing how much they are appreciated, and a basic show of flamboyance and affluence.
Spraying money is such a symbolic feature in Nigerian ceremonies that an Ijaw bride won’t smile until she’s been sprayed.
So the dancing begins and you start seeing money flying, freshly minted notes of five hundred naira, one thousand naira and some denominations of dollars and pounds being pressed on the heads of the bride and groom.
However, it is a party-spoiler to know that this act of spraying money is actually a punishable crime under Nigerian law.
According to Section 21(3) of the CBN Bill, it states, “For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or marching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.”
If convicted the person risks six months in jail or a fine of N50,000. However, it seems Nigerians don’t bother much about this law as the practice is still heavy in many events around the country.
Beyond the shores of Nigeria, there are countries where the practice of spraying money also happens. In Poland, the male guests at the wedding form a queue and take turns to dance with the bride while the female guest dances with the groom during which money is pinned on the bride’s wedding gown or put it directly in a purse.
In Ukraine, the bride’s veil is detached and given to the maid of honour, then an apron is placed on the bride which is employed to receive money sprayed during the dance. Some other countries that practice money spraying are Cuba, Mexico and the Philippines.
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