Vaughan Wedding Venue
The earth’s oldest civilizations are found in the Middle East, so it is not surprising that many wedding traditions are centuries old. However, still many of these are still observed in these days. While there are many different groups of people in the Middle East, there are also many customs and traditions that are carried out by all the cultures of the region. Middle Eastern wedding celebrations are normally held by having a string of 5 different kinds of parties.
The engagement party is the first among the five parties that compose a Middle Eastern wedding. This party is very festive, with the friends and relatives the bride and groom in attendance. There are special foods, joyful music, dancing and other forms of entertainment. The relatives and friends who attend this engagement party will wish good life for the couple.
The second aspect of a Middle Eastern wedding is the signing of the marriage contract. The bride and groom will sign their marriage contract at the courthouse. This event is cause for a celebration which is even greater than the engagement party. The contract is regarded as a part of the ceremonial activities that is very important, as Middle East weddings are considered not as a sacrament, but more of a contract. In these modern days, this contract signing is equivalent to the signing of the marriage certificate during the wedding ceremony.
In the marriage contract, the legal rights and obligations of the bride to the groom and vice versa are outlined. This is a civil agreement and to be co-signed by the father or elders of each party.
A day before the wedding, the third party will take place, but it is not as elaborate as the party on the actual wedding day. This is called the henna party. If the name sounds familiar to you, it is because of henna which is a dye or a special ink that is used in tattooing the bride’s hands and feet. Only the women friends and relatives of the bride will attend this party, and they can also have the tattoo alongside with the bride if they desire. The groom will also come and have a tattoo only on his hands. The reason to apply henna or tattoo on the bride in this party is to disable the evil spirits from affecting the couple’s life.
It is also in the henna party that the “grinding” ritual usually takes place. The couple will sit side by side with each other, while a number of unmarried girls will hold over their heads a white cloth. Another girl, called the “grinding girl”, will grind a lump of sugar with her hands over the couple while praying to protect them from evil spirits.
The exchange of rings is performed during the ceremony. The wedding rings are believed to have originated from the Middle East. It is circular in form and does not have an end, which symbolizes that the couple will live together and will not separate. The ceremony will be followed by the reception. This part of the celebration is the biggest of all, almost similar to the celebrations done in Europe and the US where there is music, dancing and speeches from the guests and the newlyweds. The feast will go on through the night and may end at dawn.
Before the reception ends, the guests will be given 5 almonds each. The almonds represent the 5 holy wishes in Middle Eastern weddings, which are: health, happiness, wealth, longevity and fertility.
Another party thrown out as part of Middle Eastern wedding celebration is the wedding shower. This party, called the “Sabaa”, takes place 7 days before the wedding. Sabaa is an Arabic word which translates to “seven” in English. The party is held in the house of the groom’s mother and is attended by the bride and the women of the family. During the Sabaa, the bride receives gifts (of gold or diamond) from her mother-in-law to be. This party is also a great bonding moment for the females of the family and is in many ways similar to the bridal shower in the Western tradition.
In each party the bride may change dress for up to five times. The styles of wedding party dresses range by style, including a fascinating whole gown with colorful appliqué matched with a stunning red veil. The head piece shows the wearer’s social status.
The food served in all the parties should be extravagant, for the purpose of creating a good impression and to follow the tradition that every wedding guest should be served with plenty of fresh and colorful food and drinks.
The Middle Eastern weddings may have slight variations. They are not universal though, as the many different cultures of the Middle East has its own varied and rich traditions. However, the one thing that is universal is the joyful celebration that is observed universally, which starts the life of two persons together
The Avenue Banquet Hall in Vaughan specializes in Middle Eastern Cuisine. They can create authentic cuisines that taste better than your grand mother’s cooking. Sample Middle Eastern Food Menu. Food menus can be customized and designed to suit your budget and taste.
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