The Magic Behind the Syrian Wedding Muslim Traditions
Written by Zohra C
Syria is a middle-eastern country that boasts of extremely rich culture and prosperity. Syria is bestowed with intense and astounding customs which have a deep-rooted emphasis even in modern times. A Syrian Muslim wedding is true to their culture and norms in every way even today. Let’s take a look at some of the unique traditions that are still implemented in a classic Syrian Muslim wedding.
1. Khetbeth ceremony
A typical Syrian Muslim wedding starts off the festivities with a ‘Khetbeth’ ceremony. The ceremony is held to commemorate the engagement between the bride and the groom. The auspicious ceremony also marks the fulfillment of offering the amount of ‘Ktab’ by the groom to the bride. Ktab also popularly known as ‘Mahr’ is an obligatory gift to be received by the bride in the form of money or kind which is mutually agreed upon between the couple.
2. Hammam Party
Hammam party (or Turkish Bath) is a jovial tradition of the grooms last shower before getting married. The groom’s friends will usher him into the bath as a bachelor, then welcomes him after the bath to escort him to the wedding venue. The tradition is not complete without the occasional pinching and nudging on the groom's knees by his single friends in hopes they will be the next person in line to get married.
3. Arada
Arada or ‘to parade’ is crucial folklore in a Muslim Syrian wedding. It is customary for the Arada band to greet the groom after his Hammam, accompany him to his family home, and later drop him off at the wedding venue. Arada signifies the ancient Syrian culture and adds a lively touch to the wedding. The Arada band can consist of up to 50 people, led by someone who sings and calls out for the groom, whilst the other members clap and play the tabla, drums, and tambourines. During the Arada the groom can be hoisted up on the shoulder of one of his friends during the parade.
4. Made-up Sword Fight
The entry of the bride and groom comes with all the pomp and grandeur. The groom enters the wedding venue with the bride under a roof of crisscrossed swords held by a group of men. This characterizes the groom's ability to protect his wife from any danger. The men then stage a made-up sword fight to entertain the guests, along with the bride and groom. The night is filled with lots of energetic buzz and festive jubilation.
All in all, being a part of a Syrian Muslim wedding is an amazing experience, to say the least. A Syrian wedding can carry the weight of a lot of emotions and dreams weaved by the bride and groom for their special day. The next time you are at a Syrian Muslim wedding you will now know the workings and the cultural significance of each ritual.
