Guest Post
A wedding is a once in a lifetime event that no couple wants to be any less than magical. Champagne, dance, food, music, get togethers are a norm that are found in almost every wedding.
While the wedding pattern is almost the same in the west, the same cannot be said for an Arab wedding. People in Arab countries have a different taste when it comes to celebrating weddings.
The Arab world covers 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, and their way of executing a wedding is almost identical.
Let’s learn how an Arab wedding is different from the rest of the world by looking at these 6 things you will see only at an Arab wedding:
- Separate Sections For Gents And Ladies
Male and female guests are usually seated separately to honor the “pardah” culture. This is because in Islam it is not considered good for women to reveal themselves to strangers (men).
Therefore, two separate ballrooms or two simple rooms are arranged where the festivities and enjoyments are carried out separately.
However, things are now gradually changing and you may even see some modern weddings with a single venue.
- Belly Dance And Dabke Dance
Belly dancing is one of the most popular parts of the Arab culture. It is performed by women in a special outfit which involves a veil on the face, a pajama, while the navel remains exposed.
This type of dance involves a complex rhythmic movement of the torso, on the beat. It’s a complex form of dance that Arabs adore a lot and is now popular all around the world.
The wedding host hires belly dancers to perform at the wedding and keep the attendees amused.
There’s another form of dance that is common in an Arab wedding, dabke dance. This dance is performed by the attendees. It is also referred to as the Arabic folk dance and is quite popular around the world.
In dabke dance, people hold each others hands and form a circle or a straight line. They then sway and stomp their feet on the ground along the rhythm of the music. This dance is usually only performed by males.
In modern Arab weddings, belly and dabke dances are performed in the same room, among both the genders, however, in case of an Arab wedding where religious virtues are stronger, these dances take place separately for men and women.
- The Arabic Feast
No wedding is complete without delicious food and Arabs are known for leaving no stone unturned when it comes to hosting. There are a variety of different foods at an Arab wedding that might include hummus, biryani, fattoush, tabbouleh, warak enab, soup, salad and more.
In drinks, you will find sharbat that’s usually red in color and is made of water and artificial sweetener. However, other drinks may also be included.
- Henna Night (Female Bachelorette)
In Arab countries, the bachelorette party is a bit different.
It is celebrated a day or two before the actual wedding and is called a henna night. On this occasion, the bride’s hands, arms, and feet are imprinted with mehndi designs. This is an all female gathering where most of the women are found to be getting mehendi imprints before the wedding.
Songs, dances and laughters are common on this occasion.
- Zaffe
Zaffe is another custom found in Arab weddings and it takes place once the bride and the groom make their entry to the wedding venue. It involves beating drums loudly and playing music, and the guests start dancing as soon as the couple enters.
In some Arab weddings, the groom along with his family or friends perform dabke dance while the audience claps for them. In some cases, the couple may also dance together to show their happiness.
This is also when the couple may opt for wedding readings.
- Ululating
In this custom, which is now common in only a few countries, women make high pitched sounds of ululating to express happiness.
The Conclusion
An Arab wedding is a fun filled roller coaster ride that puts a huge smile on everyone’s faces. Make sure to attend one if you ever get a chance to.
