Middle Eastern Wedding Traditions

When one thinks of the word "wedding", images such as white dresses, bridesmaids, and wedding bands probably come to mind. Our perception of what a wedding should be has been molded by our society. Therefore we have no concept of what a wedding would be like for someone in another country, or culture. Our country is only a small slice of this world, and although we are the veritable "melting pot", we have very little idea of what other cultures do at such a juncture in their lives. What would you find if you were to attend a wedding in another part of the world?

Were you to be present for a wedding in the middle east, their traditions would likely seem strange to you. However the Middle East contains some of the world's oldest civilizations. Since people have been getting married since the beginning of time, it is only rational to think that the Middle East would also hold some of the oldest wedding traditions. The Middle East is home to a large and varying amount of people. Wedding traditions throughout the region differ greatly, but all hold somewhat the same flavor. In the Middle East it is common to have five different parties surrounding a marriage.

The first party is the engagement party, which does not differ greatly from the ones that we attend here in the United States. The bride and groom invite friends and family to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. There is lots of merriment including dancing and singing long into the night. The bride may even change her dress a total of five times during the evening. Here in the United States, we worry about the cost of one outfit. Imagine donning five in one night.
The second party is one in which the couple travel to the courthouse and sign their marriage certificate. In the United states, we generally do not celebrate this. This is yet another evening of dress changing and merriment. Partying so much can certainly make one tired.

The third party is thrown on the day before the wedding ceremony. All of the women gather and paint the bride-to-be's hands and feet with designs of henna, which is why this celebration is known as the "henna party". The bride and groom are both present for the part of the night which is called "the grinding". The bride and groom have their heads covered by a group of unmarried girls, while the "grinding" girl grinds lumps of sugar over their covered heads. While she does this she asks God, or Allah, to bless the couple and their marriage while keeping evil spirits away. It is traditional that the bride wear green to this party. The duration of this celebration generally lasts well into the morning of the wedding day.

During the wedding ceremony, the couple exchange rings and are pronounced married, much as they would be if married in our country. Following the wedding ceremony, there is a wedding reception, which is the biggest of all five celebrations. Much as is done in European and U.S. wedding receptions, there are speeches, and much dancing. All of the guests at this party are given five almond pieces. These almond pieces are to represent the five wedding wishes: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. What more could a happy couple want?

The final party is held seven days after the wedding ceremony, and is called the Sabaa, which means Seven in Arabic. This party is held at the Mother of the Bride's house and only women are allowed to attend. The bride is given gifts, much as she would be in the U.S. at a traditional bridal shower. The bride's mother generally gifts her daughter with gold or diamonds.

Even though these traditions are far from the same, this is the general pattern used in the Middle East. Looks as if they have a great way of celebrating such a beautiful part of life. What could be more special than celebrating with your family for the week before you are married? When thinking about how to plan your wedding, perhaps think a little outside of our borders and use a little Middle Eastern influence.