Egyptian Marriage Traditions
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Institutional Affiliation
Introduction
Marriage is a formally acknowledged union between two individuals as partners in an intimate relationship (Van Gennep, 2013). It is regarded as a rite of passage in many cultures globally and that accompanies various symbols and traditions. In Egypt, marriage is highly regarded as a significant institution. The nature of the marriage can be affected by several factors, including religion and westernization. Despite westernization, marriage is still considered as a sacred event among the Egyptians.
Marriage as a Rite of Passage in Egypt
The institution of marriage in Egypt is regarded as a rite of passage since it signifies a substantial transition in a person’s life. A majority of marriage ceremonies are still conducted during the night. In fact, a wedding party would last till 4 a.m. during the summer seasons (Ellabban, 2014). Holding a marriage ceremony during the day was quite rare until the year 2011 due to reasons such as the introduction of curfew protocols during the Arab revolution; thus, the timing of the wedding ceremonies had to change (Ellabban, 2014). Today, most weddings take place in broad daylight, and this is regarded as a massive transition of the Egyptian culture.
Symbolism in Egyptian Marriage
The symbolism of marriage traditions is shown in the switch of the wedding rings to the left hand from the right one. Once the couple arrives at the reception, they are required to move to the “Kousha,” which a beautifully decorated seating area set aside for the bride and the groom. The “Kousha” comprises of two seats placed in front of the guests (Bahr, 2009). When the couples take their positions, a rose “sherbet” drink is given to guests and everyone drinks as a symbol of good health, and soon after, the exchange of rings follows. Bahr (2009) depicts the signing of a marriage contract as a significant custom of Egyptian weddings. A “Maazon” registers Islamic couples, whereas a priest precedes the union for the Christians. For Muslims, the event takes place in the house of a bride or a mosque, while Christians conduct the ceremony in a church. The rings and the contract symbolize a long-time commitment.
Traditions Observed in Egyptian Marriage
The dominant religion in Egypt is Islam where a marriage proposal should be accepted by families of the groom and the bride as well (Bahr, 2009). Therefore, the groom together with his parents travels to the bride’s home where they negotiate “Mahr,” which is the dowry to be paid. Depending on one’s social and financial status, the groom also gifts the bride with precious stones which are known as “Shabka” (Singerman, 2008). Upon agreeing on the “Mahr,” the date of engagement is set where relatives and friends come to celebrate. Here, the two families fix the day of the marriage party.
The night before the marriage ceremony, a special celebration referred to as “lailatu el henna” is held (Ellabban, 2014). The henna party dates back decades of years back and is regarded as a significant custom of the Egyptian wedding. On this night, the bride, her lady friends, and relatives gather together. A female professional is also invited to draw henna motifs on both their legs and hands. The ladies dress up for the occasion, sings, and dances freely. According to Ellabban (2014), one of the customs that is still practiced in Egyptian wedding ceremonies is to have the bride carry a huge pan containing henna paste with lit candles inserted. As the bride carries it, everyone else follows her while cheering and singing. The groom, on the other side, can hold his “lailatu el henna” at his home and invite his friends and family (Ellabban, 2014). The henna party is considered to bring the bride good luck.
On the wedding day, most of the celebrations typically begin with a musical procession called “zaffa.” The parade intends to proceed and escort the new couples to the venue of the party. In Egypt, there are numerous “zaffa” bands, which comprise a group of women and men. Some play on large instruments such as trumpets whereas other individuals hold candles (Ellabban, 2014). Every member of the band sings the popular “zaffa” songs and the newlyweds are met with happy rhythms of drums, tambours, and trumpets. At times, the beat of the traditional music is usually very loud alongside cheerful and loud “zaghrouta” from the ladies, which can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. Regardless of age and gender, friends and family surround the couple for the wedding march as they slowly proceed to the reception (Ellabban, 2014). A “zaghrouta” sound signifies that something worth celebrating is taking place.
Significance of Egyptian Marriage as a Cultural Event
Negm (n.d.) portrays the Egyptian traditional way of marriage as an event of much significance to the local people. Following each custom is regarded as of paramount essence since it reflects a moral manner of life. According to Negm (n.d.), Egyptians perceive marriage as the primary strategy towards protecting the young adults from any unholy intimate associations. In Egypt, marriage is a religious dimension encouraged in many prophetic instructions and most parts of the Quran. Besides, Egyptians believe that the institution reinforces community relationships; thus, marriage traditions reflect its society’s culture and religious beliefs.
Conclusion
In brief, marriage is still perceived as a rite of passage among the Egyptians. Westernization has spread in many parts of the world, including Egypt, where the local culture and traditions are slowly being eroded. In fact, it appears that both Egyptian and the Western cultures have been incorporated together in the local wedding ceremonies. However, the Egyptian customs are strictly observed right from accepting the proposal to exchanging vows during the wedding day. Also, the marriage traditions are still intensively observed.
References
Bahr, C. (2009). Egyptian marriage tradition. Retrieved from https://www.sharmwomen.com/wb/pages/egyptian-marriage-tradition.php
Ellabban, M. (2014). Wedding customs of Egypt. Living in Egypt. Retrieved from http://livinginegypt.org/portal/Publications/OasisMagazine/Articles/tabid/199/ID/4834/Wedding-Customs-of-Egypt.aspx#.WrzJ3dRubcu
Negm, A. (n.d.). Egyptian marriage customs of the past and present. Retrieved from http://www.zawaj.com/weddingways/egypt_customs.html
Singerman, D. (2008). Marriage and divorce in Egypt: Financial costs and political struggles. Collections électroniques de l’Ifpo. Livres en ligne des Presses de l’Institut français du Proche-Orient, 75-96. Retrieved from https://journals.openedition.org/ifpo/456?iframe=true&width=100%&height=100%
Van Gennep, A. (2013). The rites of passage. Routledge. Retrieved from https://content.taylorfrancis.com/books/download?dac=C2010-0-42492-7&isbn=9781136538858&format=googlePreviewPdf
