| The United States, although a country filled with a | | | | Moroccan wedding can last 4 to 7 days. There are |
| variety of cultures, primarily weddings are still very | | | | many pre-wedding parties. One of these parties is a |
| traditional in our ceremonies. Here are few interesting | | | | purification milk bath preformed by the bride’s |
| facts and traditions about weddings around the world. | | | | female attendants. Another is held the night before the |
| Africa - With over 1,000 cultures in this continent it is | | | | wedding a Henna Party is held to paint the hands and |
| filled with wedding traditions for each region. One | | | | feet of the bride with Henna in intricate designs to |
| common aspect is the joining of two families. In many | | | | ward off evil spirts, good luck and increase fertility. The |
| countries in Africa, young girls are taught early how to | | | | groom’s name is imbedded somewhere within the |
| be good wives. They even learn secret codes and | | | | designs. After the vows the bride must walk around |
| languages that allows them to talk to other married | | | | her house three times before entering. |
| women that only they can understand. Polygamy (one | | | | Carribbean - Although this country is influenced by |
| husband many wives) is not uncommon for this region | | | | traditions from around the world, they have their own |
| if the husband is able to financially support them. It is | | | | customs and traditions. Guests are invited to the |
| not uncommon in some African countries for a girl to | | | | wedding by word of mouth and everyone is invited |
| be engaged even before she is born. | | | | only a few honored guests are given written invitations. |
| Egypt - Egypt was the first civilization to recognize | | | | Caribbean tradition states no guest can be turned |
| marriage as a legal relationship. Egyptian marriages are | | | | away! The bride and groom walk from either the |
| still primarily arranged with the groom’s family | | | | bride’s home or the groom’s home to the |
| proposing to the bride. The ceremony starts with a car | | | | church while the wedding bells are ringing announcing |
| parade. Decorated each families cars drive to the | | | | the wedding to the whole island. They are dressed in |
| ceremony with continuous sounds of horns. Before the | | | | their finest clothes and everyone of the village lines the |
| wedding the vows begin the wedding march called the | | | | street to view the couple and comment on their attire. |
| Zaffa is performed. This tradition is a human parade | | | | Around the world wedding traditions differ and add |
| with belly dancers and performers with Egyptian music | | | | their own spiritual beliefs and practices for the union of |
| with drums and horns. | | | | marriage. |
| Morocco - As with many Muslim countries, a | | | | |