Marriage in Afghanistan By: Jade Schilling 2nd Block

Customs and Traditions Wedding lasts from around 6:00pm-11:00pm Guests sit at tables Bride’s guests on right side Groom’s guests on left side Throne-like chairs in front for couple Arranged marriage Ceremony is sometimes the first time the bride and groom meet http://blogdavinciflorist.blogspot.com/2010/04/international-engagement-party-at.html http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909

For groom: For bride: Age Physical appearance Physical appearance Spouse criteria For bride: Age (can’t marry until 16) Physical appearance Character Family background For groom: Age Physical appearance Education Ability to support wife Reputation Character Family background **can marry first cousin, if there is a suitable one** http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-traditions.html

(to be)Groom’s father and elders go to (to be) bride’s house Engagement First, letter is sent from male’s parents to a member of the female’s family (to be)Groom’s father and elders go to (to be) bride’s house They bring gifts for to-be-bride Groom’s father (or respected man from groom side) tells of their purpose and demand Elder man from bride’s side receives the demand http://awwproject.org/2010/05/a-family-matter-part-i/ http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html

Groom (or groom’s family) provides: Before the Wedding Amount of time between the engagement and the wedding ceremony depends on financial ability of groom’s family Groom (or groom’s family) provides: House Dowry (wedding gifts/payment) Expenses of wedding ceremony Gifts for bride http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html

Lunch Henna Before the Wedding Bride’s House Groom’s House kind of like the equivalent of a rehearsal dinner in America Large group of people Many gifts are brought to the groom and bride Henna First put on bride-to-be (by groom) Groom then leaves Henna is then put on the rest of the girls who are not married http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/ special-coverage/454711-wedding-traditions-in-muslim-communities-special.html

Marriage Ceremony After the lunch, elders start going to the bride’s house Soon after, everyone follows Groom arrives on a decorated horse Musicians play tambourines http://www.nerdygaga.com/3723/wedding-traditions-and-meanings/ http://culturalembrace.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Marriage Ceremony Once everyone is there, a marriage speech is given Guests dance to the music Mullah (holy man) is the one who marries the couple Couple sit on a sofa Couple has shawl placed over their heads and they hold a mirror Tradition is called ““mirror and Qur’an.” http://fensti.freehostia.com/Engl180/KiteRunner/Weddings.html http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909 http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Marriage Ceremony The wedding cake is first cut and tasted by the newly married couple It is then given out to the guests Guests dance for a while They dance the national dance of the Afghans, the Attan People congratulate the couple on their marriage http://www.afghan4life.com/afghan-girl-very-nice-mast-mily/attan-dance-2012-afghan-wedding-attan-dance-2012-video_584f2dde1.html http://finechinagirl.com/2009/07/05/cake-boss-carlos-bakery-hoboken/ http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909 http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Bride and Groom go to new home After the Ceremony Bride and Groom go to new home When bride arrives, an animal (sheep or goat) is sacrificed for Allah Bride hammers nail into door because it is a good omen for the marriage A few days later (either 3 or 7) relatives and friends bring gifts for bride http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Works Cited "Afghan Marriage Traditions and Prevailing Laws." Afghan Marriage Traditions. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-traditions.html>. "Afghan Weddings." Afghan Weddings. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://fensti.freehostia.com/Engl180/KiteRunner/Weddings.html>. "Attan Dance 2012 Afghan Wedding Attan Dance 2012." Afghan 4 Life, 2013. Web. 2 Mar. 2013. <http://www.afghan4life.com/afghan-girl-very-nice-mast-mily/attan-dance-2012-afghan-wedding-attan-dance-2012-video_584f2dde1.html>.

Works Cited "Cake Boss: Carlo’s Bakery – Hoboken." Cake Boss: Carlo’s Bakery – Hoboken : Finechinagirl. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://finechinagirl.com/2009/07/05/cake-boss-carlos-bakery-hoboken/>. "Cultural Embrace Travel Tidbits." : February 2011. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://culturalembrace.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html>. "A Family Matter, Part I." Afghan Womens Writing Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://awwproject.org/2010/05/a-family-matter-part-i/>. "Interesting Facts & Information: Tourism, Travel, Culture, Language, Business, People. » Blog Archive » Afghan Wedding Traditions." Interesting Facts Information Tourism Travel Culture Language Business People RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909>.

Works cited "OnIslam.net." Afghan Muslim Wedding. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html>. "OnIslam.net." Wedding Traditions in Muslim Communities (Special). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/special-coverage/454711-wedding-traditions-in-muslim-communities-special.html>. "Wedding Traditions and Meanings." Marriage Traditions and Meanings. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nerdygaga.com/3723/wedding-traditions-and-meanings/>. "Weddings in Afghanistan." About.com Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm>.