Wedding Traditions In
The preparations for wedding begun at henna day , the bridegroom had to undergo a henna ceremony , in this day a sheep or two were slaughtered according to guests numbers .
The henna ceremony begun after the sun set or in the after -noon , the bridegroom lay in a bed in which they put a straw mat decorated with different colors called in our local language (ghajary) . The female relatives of the bridegroom rubbed oil into the soles of his feet and palms and fingers then covered them with a paste of henna mixed with water .
The bridegroom unmarried friends then colored their fingers with rest of the paste , thus participating in the bridegroom,s happiness .
In the past the dowry of the son is in the form of land and date palms which publicly announced by the parents , nowadays this tradition in our home (country ) became out of date and dowry of the son is only 50 Sudanese pounds .
Women do the (nuqta ) and this a collection of money and goods takes place to help the bridegroom,s mother cover the expenses , all these donations entered into a book .
At night of the henna day the musicians play drums , now more sophisticated instuments were used for traditional dances (Nubian dance) in which two rows of men and women face each other and move rhythmically towards each other .
Women standing in the big circle surrounding the dancers break out in a high – pitched warbling sounds to accompany the dance.
On brides house there is no dancing on that evening , here a sheep is slaughtered and the bride too undergo the henna ceremony .
Before some days from wedding , the bridegroom send new dresses , costumes and some food stuff which is called in arabic (shaila ) .
In the moring of the wedding day a calf is slaughtered , also two sheeps or more were slaughtered according to guests numbers , accompanied with shrill – trills of the women .
All guests took part in the big feast that served in a big tent ( sewan ) , pitched near the house and after the serving of feast is completed , the marriage agreement concluded in accordance to Islamic law .
In the past and during serving the feast many of the guests went to bridegroom,s house to take him to his bride . On arrival at the entrance he was given a bowl of sweetened milk from which the bridegroom had to drink seven times , the rest was drunk by his friends toasting his health . Only the bridegroom allowed to see his bride for a few seconds , several women accompanied him to his bride room and allowed him to touch her forehead (in local nubin= gossa gabir ).
When he retuned back radiant with happiness, all congratulated him .
At night , during the party , the bridegroom and his bride sat on a small raised platform under the tent roof to receive the congratulations of the guests , celelbrations goes till dawn , and when the sun rises the couple leave to their honey moon .
