Which traditions do we not know for sure whether they really existed?

I came across this image on facebook with the claim that it is a tradition from the Victorian era.

It was said that wives ask their husbands for forgiveness for their sins once a year, at Christmas.

I then researched this, because the whole thing seemed implausible to me.

I look at the faces of the men and rather suspect that it is an early BDSM party.

No one can find any evidence of such a tradition.

And I don’t think, if there was, that the men would show their pleasure so obviously in the process-

Besides, it would not be a group happening.

But the picture is interesting, isn’t it?

Disclaimer:

English ist not my mother tongue, pardon my mistakes.

Please do not translate my answers, because i do it by myself.