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Wedding haka moves New Zealand Maori bride to tears | Wedding haka moves New Zealand Maori bride to tears |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A passionate wedding haka that moved a New Zealand bride to tears is making everyone else cry too after being watched more than 13 million times. | |
Video of the Maori dance at the wedding of Aaliya and Benjamin Armstrong is being widely shared on social media. | |
Ms Armstrong, 21, told the BBC she was "blown away" by the performance. | |
She said the haka was a sign of respect from her husband's best man and family not, as some have commented online, an attempt to intimidate him. | |
"They are quite strong, the men in their family," she said. | |
The video was filmed at the couple's wedding reception in Auckland last week. | |
In it, they watch with emotion as the groomsmen and guests surprise them with a heartfelt performance of the traditional dance, before joining in themselves. | |
"I wasn't planning on jumping in until one bridesmaid did. I felt the need to show love and respect back," said Ms Armstrong. "I was really blown away." | |
Women do not normally perform the haka in Maori culture, but she said they can do at weddings. | |
The nearly three minute video ends with the couple emotionally embracing the performers. | |
'Moved me to tears' | 'Moved me to tears' |
The haka was organised by the 23-year-old groom's best man and was led by his older brother. It was filmed by her cousin's production company. | |
"Ben is a Maori, he is probably more Maori than I am," Ms Armstrong said. | "Ben is a Maori, he is probably more Maori than I am," Ms Armstrong said. |
"Because he has fair skin, some people have been saying on social media that 'he'd better not hurt the bride', but they're actually his family." | "Because he has fair skin, some people have been saying on social media that 'he'd better not hurt the bride', but they're actually his family." |
The couple, who live in Auckland, posted the video for friends and its popularity has taken them by surprise. | The couple, who live in Auckland, posted the video for friends and its popularity has taken them by surprise. |
"We didn't think it would shoot off, but yesterday afternoon I left my phone alone for about five minutes and I had so many notifications," Ms Armstrong said. | "We didn't think it would shoot off, but yesterday afternoon I left my phone alone for about five minutes and I had so many notifications," Ms Armstrong said. |
Comments on social media have focused on the strong emotions that the video arouses. | Comments on social media have focused on the strong emotions that the video arouses. |
"Yes, this moved me to tears," said user Hind Makki in a typical Twitter post. | "Yes, this moved me to tears," said user Hind Makki in a typical Twitter post. |