TOKAMACHI, Niigata -- Residents in the Matsunoyama district of Tokamachi celebrated the marriage of local women in a recent lunar new year ceremony that has continued for centuries -- by throwing the bridegrooms over a 5-meter-high snowy ledge.

The ceremony started about 300 years ago, reportedly as an act of revenge on men from outside the village who married local women. The ceremony targets bridegrooms who married local women during the previous year.

One of the bridegrooms to be thrown over the ledge on Jan. 15 was a 33-year-old researcher from Tokyo's Katsushika-ku, who emerged covered in snow. His 31-year-old wife was waiting for him when he landed.

"I caught my husband at the bottom and our love deepened," she said, smiling. "I want to make our family one with lots of children."

As the bridegroom-throwing ceremony was held, another 600-year-old ritual involving the burning of rice paddy straw took place. Ashes from the straw and snow were mixed to create ink, and people shouted out congratulations to each other as they covered each other's faces with the ink and prayed for sound health and prosperity.

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