the blackening is a peculiar Orcadian custom relating to weddings it happens to the groom though now some females seem to have adopted it, thankfully because I got married just outside Glasgow both Dauvit and I were spared the silliness.

The victim is waylaid by his friends and stripped, bound and bundled onto a lorry (Truck with a open flat bed) He is then Blackened with flour treacle and feathers and trundled round the town for a while, this can take a few hours and often involves beverages that are not tea or coffee. at the end the poor soul is often unceremoniously dumped in the sea to clean of.

the blakening

The blackening and other wedding customs most of which have gone out of use now except for the cog which refers both to the wooden receptacle made using the barrel makers skills(having two longer handles so that it can be passed from hand to hand among the guests) and the drink contained therein.Orkney wedding customs