Sometimes weddings can be a little unpredictable.
<br>Fundamentally, weddings are all the same, right?
People get dressed to the nines, and brides and/or grooms commit their lives to one another in a moment of loving pageantry.
Benjamin and Aaliyah Armstrong. Image from Westone Productions/Vimeo.
Still, with so many moving parts and personalities, weddings can also be a little unpredictable. And while no couple wishes for the unexpected after the grueling work of planning their wedding, the unforeseen can sometimes play out pretty amazingly.
The Internet saw how unpredictable weddings can be when a video taken at a recent one in New Zealand went viral.
Aaliyah and Benjamin Armstrong's reception was interrupted when a band of groomsmen and guests began huddling on the dance floor. What followed could, by those unfamiliar with indigenous Polynesian culture, be mistaken as hell breaking loose.
But as you'll see in the video — which has been viewed over 40 million times on Facebook alone — that's not at all what happened.
Image from Westone Productions/Vimeo.
For two minutes, the newlyweds and their guests were honored with a surprise performance of a traditional Māori haka.
According to NewZealand.com, "The haka is a type of ancient Māori war cry traditionally used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace. Haka are a fierce display of a tribe's pride, strength, and unity."
In New Zealand, the haka is a part of mainstream culture, even for non-Māori citizens, through its practice in team sports like rugby and basketball. Photos by Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images and Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images.
The group of men rhythmically stomped their feet and beat their chests, commanding the party's attention. They raised the emotional tenor in the gymnasium-turned-banquet hall, screaming chants encouraging strength and introspection in the couple.
GIF from Westone Productions/Vimeo
The performance grew louder and more intense as the seconds passed and more participants took to the floor, including bridesmaids and other women.
Historically, women would observe the haka and only join if they approved of the collective form of the performance. Image from Westone Productions/Vimeo.
Eventually, the bride and groom, both of whom have some Māori ancestry, stepped forward to face the crowd and joined the haka in a forceful show of gratitude.
Image from Westone Productions/Vimeo.
"I wasn't planning on jumping in until one bridesmaid did," Aaliyah said to the BBC. "I felt the need to show love and respect back. I was really blown away."
This touching moment from oceans away is more than just a shareable video. It's also a teachable moment.
Image from Westone Productions/Vimeo.
While indigenous communities around the world have shared the same devastating fate in the name of colonialism, it doesn't have to mean their cultures are lost.
The people of New Zealand honor their indigenous community not just with awareness days and history months, but through a real commitment to maintain elements of the culture as a unifying part of modern life for all New Zealanders.
Not as mascots.
Here's one of those times when the phrase "Only in Cleveland" is actually an understatement. #Cleveland #Indians http://pic.twitter.com/rFlzrqNz4q
— Cleveland Frowns (@ClevelandFrowns) April 4, 2014
Not as fashion statements.
Culturally insensitive or down right fabulous? What's your opinion? #coachella #headdress http://pic.twitter.com/F7OgBSBPSI
— ShopGlamRock (@ShopGlamRock) April 14, 2014
But as a heritage that's worthy of respect and remembrance. And this haka, according to Aaliyah, is a good example of one way that's done.
"It's a standard haka that most people know, so it gives people [the] chance to step in and show their respect, whether you are young or old, whether your knowledge of this haka is strong or weak," she told Today.com. "It's a haka that is able to bring a lot of people together."
Watch the haka performed at Benjamin and Aaliyah's wedding:
Original video by Westone Productions/Vimeo.
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