Middle Eastern Weddings

Middle Eastern Weddings: one may be assured, will be a happy joyous affair, particularly with the emphasis that the Middle Eastern culture places on family. Loyalty and respect for ones family has, and always will be, top priority. The family comes before the individual. Marriages were arranged and still are today. For those residing in the West, with less rigid boundaries, it is still the custom to seek approval and ask the parents permission to marry.

The Middle East comprises lands around the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf; the generally accepted definition being nations in South West Asia from Iran to Egypt. The Middle East also defines a cultural area, although it is noted that journalists more commonly refer to the lands in North East Africa as North Africa. The lands of the Middle East include: Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Iran (Persia), Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE (United Arab Emirates), Yemen, and the Palestinian Territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Influences Upon Middle Eastern Weddings:

(a) Culture. There are many different cultural groups including Persian, Arabic and Turkish cultures. Other significant groups include the Kurdish, Berber, Assyrians and Chaldeans.
(b) Religion. The main religions are Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Druzism.
(c) Language. There are four main languages, Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Hebrew.
(d) Geography. Whether living a sedentary oasis life, or living a nomadic life, like the roaming herdsmen of the Bedouin tribe lead by their Sheik from oasis to oasis. Then there are the boarder influences of the Mediterranean, Indian, African, etc., cultures, as well as the terrain from dry dessert to rolling green plains.
(e) Wealth. As with all cultures the prosperity of the family will effect the lavishness of the wedding.

Traditional Middle Eastern Weddings:

There are five stages to Middle Eastern weddings indicated below. However, given the diversity of the Middle East it should be recognized there will be tribal, cultural, regional, religious and language differences, so the following is a general overview.

(1) An Engagement Party, to celebrate the pending union of the couple and to bring together the two families. The bride-to-be may change her attire up to five times.
(2) The signing of the marriage contract at the courthouse, after which another party will follow. Again the bride may change her attire up to five times.
(3) The Henna Party always takes place one day prior to the wedding. The bride, dressed in green, will have her hands and feet decorated to ward off evil spirits.
(4) The wedding and wedding reception. During the wedding the couple will exchange rings. Afterwards there is a wedding banquet, during which the guests are given five almond pieces representing health, happiness, wealth, fertility and longevity. Click here for an Arabian Wedding Banquet
(5) The Wedding Shower, “Sabaa”, always takes place seven days after the marriage. Presents are given, the bride’s mother traditionally giving gold and/or diamonds.

Attire For Middle Eastern Weddings:

If attending a wedding at a Mosque, men should wear long pants and shirts. Women should dress modestly, (ensuring their arms and legs are covered) and cover their heads. Your shoes should be left at the door. Men and women pray separately. The Imam will lead the prayers.

The groom’s attire will comprise of a tunic, pants, over-garment with a belt or waist sash and head cloth. The latter may be a turban, a “tarbush”, or “kafiyyeh”. The bride’s attire will be similar to the groom’s, except her garments will be highly decorated, and include the wearing of a facemask. The choice in fabric can reveal social status. The choice in decoration may reveal marital status. Both indicate heritage and tribal affiliations.

As a general rule of thumb for a woman adhering to the “hijab” everything should be covered apart from her hands, face and feet. A headscarf “chador” should be worn and a long robe/over coat “abayah” (or “abbaya”), or “jilbab”.

A “shirsh” is a one-length dress with tight sleeves. A “thob” is an overly long dress that folds in the middle with large sleeves. “Burqas” is one name given to the facemask, as well as “yashmak” and “batula”. The trousers that narrow at the ankle are called “sirwai”.

If you have been invited to a Middle Eastern Wedding and still have questions that you have not found the answers to here, then do not hesitate to ask the groom or bride-to-be. I am sure they would be delighted to share their customs with you.

Middle Eastern Weddings