In Xianyang, a groom was subjected to a coercive ‘wedding prank’ during the bride-fetching ritual: multiple individuals forced a whole green onion and raw egg mixture into his mouth, causing immediate vomiting. The perpetrators claimed it was local custom, but the act raised serious health and consent concerns.

Social Context

While traditional Chinese wedding customs emphasize joy and auspiciousness, ‘harmful pranks’ (e.g., forced ingestion, humiliation) violate the Civil Code’s provisions on bodily autonomy and dignity (Article 990). Since 2021, local governments—including Shaanxi Province—have issued guidelines urging communities to abandon dangerous or degrading rituals, promoting ‘civilized weddings’ aligned with socialist core values.

Safety Tip

Couples should proactively negotiate and document agreed-upon wedding customs with families; if pressured into unsafe acts, immediately contact local civil affairs offices or community mediators before the event.