Arabic Wedding Customs
USINFO | 2013-11-29 16:11

 
Dancing is a common form of celebration at an Arabic wedding.

It is customary, but not mandatory, for weddings in Arabic countries to span the course of several days. Parties are thrown celebrating different aspects of the marriage. Each party also has its own customs. Some modern couples shorten the length of the ceremony and it is a personal choice as to how many parties are held. Other Arabic customs include the "zaffeh" in Lebanon and sweet gifts for wedding guests in Iran.

Engagement Party
After a bride has accepted an offer of marriage, it is customary for the families of the bride and groom to throw an engagement party for friends and family. This time for the couple features festivities that include music, dancing and extensive amounts of food native to their country or countries. The bride-to-be also may have several wardrobe changes throughout the party, which will go on late into the night.

The Lebanese Zaffeh
There are many cultures within Lebanon, but one tradition is common among all. The custom of escorting the bride to the groom is called "zaffeh." This longstanding tradition arose in a local "village" wedding, where everyone would assist in escorting the bride. The groom and townspeople would celebrate for many hours, and sometimes days, and make their way to the bride's home. The groom finally enters the home and escorts out the bride. The couple is met with a celebrating crowd who cheers them and wishes them luck in their marriage.
 
Iranian Treats
In Iran, it is significant for a special gift to be given to the guests of the wedding. The custom has been practiced in Iran for centuries, even preceding the Islamic religion. Each guest usually leaves with a sweet treat wrapped in silk or lace. Examples of treats that can be given include noghl and nabat. This custom evolved from the practice of brides visiting homes in their village to announce their engagement. During these visits, they would take sweet treats and celebrate with neighbors and friends.

Almonds
One custom that many Arabic-speaking nations continue to practice is giving almonds at the wedding reception. The wedding party makes sure that each guest receives five almonds. The almonds represent the five sacred wishes for marriage, which include happiness, wealth and longevity. The almonds sometimes will have a candy coating. The inside of the almond represents difficult times that the couple will face during marriage, while the sweet outside represents the loving parts of a marriage. Five almonds also are given because it is an odd number and odd numbers cannot be divided, a symbol of the couple staying together.

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