Learn about wedding ceremonies in Egypt
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class — Holidays in Egypt Series at ArabicPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Egyptian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Lesson 18, Wedding ceremonies. In Egyptian Arabic, it’s called [ الأفراح (elʾafrāḥ)]. |
| In this lesson, unlike the others, we are not going to talk about a feast or a festival. We will talk about wedding ceremonies in Egypt. Egyptian wedding ceremonies have their own rituals which distinguish them from any other country. The date is definitely decided by the bridegroom and the bride according to their schedule. |
| Let's learn more information about the most awaited day for every young girl. |
| Now, before we go into more detail, do you know the answer to this question— |
| Do you know what is the most popular time of the year for holding wedding ceremonies in Egypt? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| There are two types of wedding ceremonies in Egypt; the ones which are held in streets and alleys, and others for middle and rich classes which are held in hotel halls dedicated to wedding ceremonies. Lower-middle class families' wedding ceremonies are held in a temporary pavilion of patterned cloth which is set up in the street. All the people living in the area attend the wedding ceremony. This type of wedding ceremony is characterized by local songs and dances. |
| The second type of wedding ceremony is held in dedicated halls in luxurious hotels. Only the guests who have an invitation card either from the bridegroom, or [ عريس (ʿarīs)], or from the bride, or [ عروسة(ʿarūsah)], can attend the ceremony. Hotel wedding ceremonies are characterized by a certain system from the beginning of the day until its end. At the beginning of the day, the bridegroom goes to the barber and the bride goes to the hairdresser. They go later to the hotel to have their photos taken before the wedding. After that, the wedding ceremony goes on with its traditional items, such as the ceremonial procession called [ زفة(zaffah)], the sherbet drink, cutting the wedding cake, and the buffet. |
| Weddings are very expensive. Normally, the bridegroom pays all the costs; such as the cost of the wedding ceremony itself, the cost of the bride's hairdresser, makeup, and the photographers. However, because most young men are unable to pay for all of these expenses, the bridegroom and the bride have begun recently to share all the costs of the wedding. |
| In the wedding, the bride throws her flower bouquet and all the single women compete to catch it because they believe that this is a good omen, and that the woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to get married! |
| And now I'll give you the answer to the earlier quiz. |
| Do you know what is the most popular time of the year for holding wedding ceremonies in Egypt? |
| The most popular time is the feasts and the period of summer vacation. This is because the bride and the bridegroom try to make use of the holidays in order to make the honeymoon, or [ شهر العسل (šahr el-ʿasal)] longer. |
| So listeners, how was this lesson? Are wedding ceremonies in your country similar to the Egyptian ones? Let us know in the comments and we’ll see you next time! Bye! مع السلامة (maʿ el-salāmah)! |
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