Did you know that the Egyptians invented eye makeup, breath mints, and toothpaste? These are just three of many ancient creations that we still use today. But, Egyptian traditions and rituals are far more fascinating than their cosmetic inventions.
Many people know about the Egyptian burial traditions and the incredible monuments they created for their pharaohs. But how much do you know about Egyptian wedding traditions?
Both ancient and modern Egyptian wedding traditions are beautiful, sentimental, and deeply fascinating. If you’re getting ready for a wedding yourself, it’s worth learning about their rituals and getting some inspiration for your own ceremony!
Read on to learn more about traditional Egyptian weddings!
Pre-WeddingTraditions
Traditionally, Egyptian weddings were arranged and came with certain financial agreements to combine the power of the two families. Modern Egyptian weddings are generally based on love, but some financial traditions still stand.
In modern Egyptian wedding tradition, the groom pays for the shabka, which is gold, a gift to the bride, and the mahr, a dowry gifted to the bride’s family. After the gifts have been given, a marriage contract will be drawn up, and both sides will read the contract and the first chapter of the Qur’an.
When all parties agree, the couple is considered engaged.The bride’s family will then pay for the engagement party. The party usually includes a feast, entertainment, and decorations.
Sometimes the party will also be themed. After the engagement party, the couple will begin wearing their rings on their right hands and find a house to live in. Once they’ve settled on a house, they can set a wedding date.
Following the engagement party is a henna night, which can be compared to a bachelorette party. On this night, the bride and her female friends and family have a themed party. There’s singing and dancing, and the bride receives intricate henna on her hands and feet.
Traditional Egyptian Wedding Attire
The traditional Egyptian wedding dress is usually brightly color edor woven with small gems and jewels. The groom usually wears a ceremonial tribal outfit or a custom robe. The ensemble is completed with a veil.
Christian couples and city weddings are slightly more modern, and the couple will usually wear a tuxedo and white bridal dress.
Because Egypt is primarily a Muslim country, modesty is important. Women should wear a long skirt that is not too form-fitting, that falls at least below the knees. There is also a dress code for wedding guests.
Alternatively, you can choose to wear loose cotton trousers. Be sure your top covers your chest, shoulders, and stomach.
Male guests can wear trousers and a polo or a button-up. A sports coat is also fine, depending on the formality of the wedding. Shorts are considered inappropriate for both genders.
The Ketb El Ketab
The first step of an Islamic wedding ceremony in Egyptis theKatb El Ketab, which takes place in a mosque. It can take place on the same day as the wedding or a few days prior.
The couple will exchange oaths and sign the marriage contract that was drawn up during the engagement phase.The Katb El Ketab takes place with a Muslim cleric as a witness, who will register the wedding with the government.
Following the signing, the father of the bride and the groom join hands and reread the contract and the beginning of the Qur’an. Then, everyone participates in a feast.
The Wedding
The wedding itself usually takes place on a Thursday, as this is the end of the week for Muslims. The bride is first presented with the mahr. She can use the money in any way she likes, but traditionally it will be used to pay for the house and furniture.
The Katb El Ketab acts as a formal ceremony, so the wedding itself is more of a celebration. The new couple will perform a dance, and everyone will celebrate and feast. In a familiar tradition, the bride will throw her bouquet to the female guests.
Gifts are also given at this point. Traditional Egyptian wedding gifts include money, gold, and small knick-knacks for the new house.
As they leave the venue, guests toss rice and other grains at the couple to wish them good luck and prosperity. In Egyptian tradition, grains are a symbol of fertility.
After the Wedding
After a traditional Egyptian wedding ceremony, the couple goes directly to the groom’s house. In the countryside, they will ride a camel to get there. However, in more urban settings, they’ll simply drive.
As the couple proceeds, the crowd dances and whoops, creating a procession of celebration. At the groom’s house, the bride’s father hands the bride to the groom and removes her veil. The groom will kiss her, and the procession will resume.
This procession can take up to an hour with traditional music and belly dancers. The guests will also drinks herpat, a sweet rosewater juice.
For one week after the wedding, the bride’s mother will cook every meal for the new couple.
Egyptian Wedding Ring Tradition
The couple first wears their rings when they get engaged, but they wear them on their right hands.Following the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds will move their rings from their right hands to their left hands.
The use of rings to symbolize marriage is actually one of the ancient Egyptian wedding traditions. Ancient Egyptians viewed the ring as a symbol of commitment, everlasting fidelity, and happiness.
Egyptian Wedding Traditions
Now that you’re more familiar with Egyptian wedding traditions, you can see the importance of family, faith, and tradition during the ceremony. Every component of the ceremony is key to a beautiful wedding and a lasting marriage.
If you’re planning your own wedding, it can be overwhelming. There are so many traditions, opinions, options, and deadlines all coming at you at once. If you need a helping hand, reach out to WeddingDetails and let us help you achieve your dream wedding.
Wedding Details is your comprehensive guide to all aspects of your wedding. From traditional ceremonies to questions regarding the guests, our website offers you one place to do all your research.