Introduction
Wedding is the most significant and exciting moment in every individual’s life. Every individual desires to get married. This significant event marks a transition from being single, a phase of life free from numerous responsibilities, to partnership which comes with a lot of responsibilities and accountabilities. Despite these responsibilities, people still choose to get married because it is one way of expressing how much each partner loves their significant other.
Celebrations for weddings vary across the world. Some countries have traditional weddings while others do not. Two countries that have traditional weddings are Pakistan and Egypt.
Since both Pakistan and Egypt practice Muslim traditions, it is certain that their wedding ceremonies differ from those of nations that practice Christian weddings. However, despite both practicing Muslim weddings, there are still distinctions between the two. Egyptians refer to their wedding as a zaffa,” or wedding march, while Pakistanis call it a “shadi.”
In Egypt, arranged marriage is practiced. The wedding march, known as “Zaffa”, is a musical procession featuring instruments such as bagpipes, horns, and drums. One of the highlights of the “Zaffa” is belly dancing while men carry flaming swords. This creates a jubilant atmosphere and signals the start of the wedding ceremony.
Meanwhile, weddings are one of the most prestigious occasions in Pakistan. Preparations for Pakistani weddings begin several months in advance, but the actual ceremony typically lasts only three days. The main event is called “Shadi” and marks a significant milestone in two individuals’ lives.
During this event, the parents of the bride arrange the reception and the official signing of paperwork takes place in the presence of their Islamic Priest called Imam. Shadi, the bride, wears an embroidered outfit with loads of jewelry as well as guests, particularly women who wear bright colored outfits and jewelry. Moreover, the bride will not appear until after the signing of paperwork, Nikah (see Wedding Ceremonies in Pakistan”).
The purpose of this paper is to explore the origins of weddings and compare the practices of Pakistani and Egyptian weddings. Additionally, we will examine the similarities and differences between Pakistani and Egyptian wedding traditions.
Background
To better understand Pakistani and Egyptian weddings, it is important to first know the origins of wedding traditions that are commonly practiced worldwide. Weddings can be complicated celebrations due to guest lists, catering, and planning. The majority of couples desire a memorable wedding; in other words, they want a grand celebration that guests will not forget. This is especially true for the bride who wants an outfit that distinguishes her as the bride and ceremonies and traditions that make the occasion official.
Nowadays, some people choose only the wedding traditions that hold personal significance for their ceremony. There are eleven traditional highlights of a wedding: rings, dress and veil, witnesses, Best Man, Bride to the Left, cake, flower toss, garter toss, rice toss, old shoes tied to the getaway car and honeymoon (see The Origins of Wedding Traditions”).
Discussion
How are Pakistani and Egyptian weddings practiced?
A Pakistani wedding, or Shadi,” is a four-day event that represents a lifetime commitment between two individuals. The celebration is broken down into four days of events. On the first day, the families of the groom and bride wear yellow outfits and have separate celebrations in anticipation of the forthcoming wedding. From this point on, the engaged couple are not allowed to see each other until their wedding ceremony (see “Wedding Traditions in Pakistan”).
On the second day of the celebration, there is a big occasion called Mehndi. This event takes place on the night before the “shadi”. During Mehndi, Henna is applied to both the groom’s and bride’s hands. It is a colorful occasion that is also celebrated with ancient songs and dances. Additionally, there is an exchange of outfits between the groom’s family and the bride’s family. The family of the groom takes their wedding outfit to the bride’s family while receiving their wedding outfit from her family.
The bride does not wear makeup during Mehndi and instead dresses in a traditional yellow outfit. The family of the bride decorates their house with hundreds of colored lights, creating a flashy promulgation for their daughter’s upcoming wedding (see Wedding Traditions in Pakistan”).
Below is a picture from one of these events during Mehndi:
(See “Wedding Ceremonies in Pakistan” for more information on Pakistani weddings.)
On the third day, the wedding rites and ceremony take place, marking the marriage ceremony. As per Pakistani tradition, both the groom and bride wear red outfits. The bride’s outfit is ostentatious and elegant, along with her jewelry and veil. The groom wears a distinctive traditional turban.
After exchanging their wedding vows, the Holy Bible in Islam—the Koran—is held on the head of the bride as she joins her husband’s family. This event also involves signing paperwork in front of their Islamic priest or Imam and guests (see Wedding Traditions in Pakistan”).
On the fourth and final day of the wedding program in Pakistan, the newlyweds host their first dinner as husband and wife. The family of the groom sends invitations to all guests to come to their house for a celebration or banquet. After the wedding day, the Valima reception takes place. The Valima is hosted by the family of the groom (see Wedding Traditions in Pakistan).
Egyptian Wedding (Zaffa). The ancient Egyptians were the first to have marriage codes in the world. They viewed marriage as a civil and legal relationship”. The early Egyptian codes established the marriage relationship and outlined the rights, responsibilities, and obligations for couples.
Several ancient marriage contracts have been recovered, listed, recorded, and signed by three officers. The early Egyptian codes also addressed the right to divorce. The wife was highly venerated and valued with a great reputation. Before the engagement took place, the couple had plenty of time to see and get to know each other better during common feasts and in the temple. Early Egyptian family customs permitted adult daughters to greet and receive guests who came to visit her parents. Egyptians were already aware of engagements before wedding ceremonies took place.
The fiancée dressed in an engagement outfit which was simpler compared to the wedding outfit; its color was pink or blue as the groom put a ring on his fiancée’s finger as a sign of immortality. Moreover, the groom handed over precious and expensive jewelry gifts that were part of their agreement before the big event, known as Zaffa.
During the celebration, guests feasted on and drank many mouth-watering foods and drinks. Once the new family’s house was ready, both families discussed and agreed upon a date for the wedding party. The night before the ceremony, friends, neighbors, and relatives gathered for The Henna Night” celebration. Women went to the bride’s house while men went to the groom’s house. This scenario is similar to Christian traditions where women celebrate with a “shower party” at the bride-to-be’s home while men have a “stag party” with friends (see “Egyptian Wedding Traditions” in Babylon Productions Articles).
Furthermore, upon the arrival of the women at the bride’s house, they danced and sang throughout the night. The bride donned a pink outfit crafted from silk or cotton fibers, while her hands and feet were adorned with henna. Meanwhile, the men also celebrated into the night with dancing and singing while dressed in expensive suits. The following day, their priest registered and signed their marriage agreement in a temple ceremony attended by both families and friends alongside the newlyweds themselves (see Egyptian Wedding Traditions” by Babylon Productions Articles).
Additionally, arranged marriage was a common practice among Egyptians, and it was customary for the groom’s family to propose to the bride. Prior to exchanging vows, a wedding march known as zaffa” is performed (refer to “Wedding Traditions in Egypt”). During wedding celebrations, a dancer portrays a high priestess from pre-Islamic times and performs ceremonial functions to bless the groom and bride.
The zaffa is a ceremonial act performed to bring Fertility and Abundance” within the marriage. The ceremony includes a dancer, the groom and bride, and a group of musicians who play zaffa rhythms. These rhythms sound like “dum tata tak tak dum tak tak” and let people know that there is a wedding going on. The zaffa provides an impressive and memorable celebration that introduces the newly wed couple to guests in the reception room. When the procession stops, the newly wed couple sits down on the “Kosha,” a typical Egyptian wedding throne (see “Zaffa”). During the wedding, the bride wears a white outfit that signifies spiritual purity and clarity. The picture below shows an example of this event during a zaffa (see “Zaffa”).
There are many similarities between Pakistani weddings and Egyptian weddings. Both ceremonies require several months of preparation before the actual wedding day. Traditionally, both cultures practice arranged marriages where the groom’s family makes an agreement with the bride’s family. The groom in both traditions gives expensive jewelry, and they make sure that their wedding ceremonies and receptions are grand and flashy. Additionally, they have an Islamic priest present to conduct the ceremony and paperwork to sign. The night before the wedding, couples put on henna on their hands and feet to add a festive touch.
The wedding differences between Pakistani and Egyptian weddings are numerous. Both cultures have unique traditions when it comes to preparing for the big day. While both have a pre-wedding celebration, there are still differences in how they are conducted. In Pakistan, The Henna Night” is a joint celebration where parents exchange outfits for the bride and groom. In Egypt, the celebration is separate with women going to the bride’s house and men going to the groom’s house to put henna on their hands and feet.
On the wedding day itself, Pakistani couples wear colorful and flashy outfits with grooms wearing traditional turbans. Meanwhile, Egyptian brides wear white as a symbol of spiritual purity and clarity.
Conclusion
Wedding celebrations are significant to all of us. It is the most exciting event of our lives, where we take on new responsibilities and face new challenges. Although wedding activities are done differently according to our culture and traditions, the meaning behind it remains strong. It is a sacred matter that needs to be preserved and respected.
Although Egyptians and Pakistanis share the same Islamic faith, they express their unique cultural identities through their distinct, meaningful, and colorful wedding ceremonies. These celebrations signify the promise of a joyful and abundant life together. Additionally, both Pakistani and Egyptian weddings are known for their grandeur and adherence to tradition, which helps couples feel truly wedded and ready to embark on a new dimension of life.
References
- Wedding Traditions in Egypt. Learn about Egyptian wedding traditions.
- Zaffa. Discover the significance of Zaffa in Egyptian weddings.
- Egyptian Wedding Traditions. Read about the customs and practices followed in Egyptian weddings.
- Wedding Ceremonies in Pakistan. Get insights into Pakistani wedding ceremonies and rituals.
- Wedding Traditions in Pakistan. Explore the unique traditions that make Pakistani weddings special.
- The Origins of Wedding Traditions. Discover the history behind popular wedding traditions and customs from around the world.
