MARRIAGE IN AFGHANISTAN

By: Jade Schilling

2nd Block

Wedding lasts from around 6:00pm-11:00pm Guests sit at tables

• Bride’s guests on right side• Groom’s guests on left side Throne-like chairs in

front for couple Arranged marriage

Ceremony is sometimes the first time the bride

and groom meet

CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909

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For bride:• Age (can’t marry until

16)• Physical appearance• Character• Family background

For groom:• Age• Physical appearance• Education• Ability to support wife• Reputation• Character• Family background

SPOUSE CRITERIA

**can marry first cousin, if there is a suitable one**

http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-traditions.html

• First, letter is sent from male’s parents to a

member of the female’s family

• (to be)Groom’s father and elders go to (to be)

bride’s house• They bring gifts for to-

be-bride• Groom’s father (or

respected man from groom side) tells of their purpose and

demand• Elder man from bride’s

side receives the demand

ENGAGEMENT

http://awwproject.org/2010/05/a-family-matter-part-i/

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html

Amount of time between the engagement and the wedding ceremony depends on

financial ability of groom’s family Groom (or groom’s family) provides:

• House• Dowry (wedding gifts/payment)• Expenses of wedding ceremony

• Gifts for bride

BEFORE THE WEDDING

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html

Henna• First put on bride-to-be (by

groom)• Groom then leaves

• Henna is then put on the rest of the girls who are not

married

Lunch• kind of like the equivalent

of a rehearsal dinner in America

• Large group of people• Many gifts are brought to

the groom and bride

Bride’s House Groom’s House

BEFORE THE WEDDING

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/special-coverage/454711-wedding-traditions-in-muslim-communities-special.html

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.html

Marriage Ceremony

• After the lunch, elders start going to the bride’s house

• Soon after, everyone follows

• Groom arrives on a decorated horse

• Musicians play tambourines

http://www.nerdygaga.com/3723/wedding-traditions-and-meanings/

http://culturalembrace.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.htmlhttp://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Marriage Ceremony

• Once everyone is there, a marriage speech is given• Guests dance to the music• Mullah (holy man) is the one who marries the

couple• Couple sit on a sofa• Couple has shawl placed over their heads and they

hold a mirror• Tradition is called ““mirror and Qur’an.”

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909 http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

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Marriage Ceremony• The wedding cake is first cut

and tasted by the newly married couple

• It is then given out to the guests

• Guests dance for a while• They dance the national dance

of the Afghans, the Attan• People congratulate the

couple on their marriagehttp://finechinagirl.com/2009/07/05/cake-boss-carlos-bakery-hoboken/

http://www.afghan4life.com/afghan-girl-very-nice-mast-mily/attan-dance-2012-afghan-wedding-attan-dance-2012-video_584f2dde1.html

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.htmlhttp://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

Bride and Groom go to new home When bride arrives, an animal (sheep

or goat) is sacrificed for Allah Bride hammers nail into door because

it is a good omen for the marriage A few days later (either 3 or 7) relatives and friends bring gifts for

bride

AFTER THE CEREMONY

http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-muslim-wedding.htmlhttp://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm

"Afghan Marriage Traditions and Prevailing Laws." Afghan Marriage Traditions. N.p., n.d.

Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.muslim-marriage-guide.com/afghan-marriage-

traditions.html>.

"Afghan Weddings." Afghan Weddings. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://fensti.freehostia.com/Engl180/KiteRunner/Weddings.html>.

"Attan Dance 2012 Afghan Wedding Attan Dance 2012." Afghan 4 Life, 2013. Web. 2 Mar.

2013. <http://www.afghan4life.com/afghan-girl-very-nice-mast-mily/attan-dance-2012-

afghan-wedding-attan-dance-2012-video_584f2dde1.html>.

WORKS CITED

"Cake Boss: Carloâs Bakery â Hoboken." �� �� Cake Boss: Carloâs Bakery â Hoboken : Finechinagirl�� �� . N.p.,

n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013. <http://finechinagirl.com/2009/07/05/cake-boss-carlos-bakery-

hoboken/>.

"Cultural Embrace Travel Tidbits." : February 2011. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://culturalembrace.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html>.

"A Family Matter, Part I." Afghan Womens Writing Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://awwproject.org/2010/05/a-family-matter-part-i/>.

"Interesting Facts & Information: Tourism, Travel, Culture, Language, Business, People. » Blog

Archive » Afghan Wedding Traditions." Interesting Facts Information Tourism Travel Culture

Language Business People RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/afghanistan/Afghan-Wedding-Traditions/4909>.

WORKS CITED

"OnIslam.net." Afghan Muslim Wedding. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/traditions/411646-afghan-

muslim-wedding.html>.

"OnIslam.net." Wedding Traditions in Muslim Communities (Special). N.p., n.d. Web. 02

Mar. 2013. <http://www.onislam.net/english/culture-and-entertainment/special-

coverage/454711-wedding-traditions-in-muslim-communities-special.html>.

"Wedding Traditions and Meanings." Marriage Traditions and Meanings. N.p., n.d. Web.

02 Mar. 2013. <http://www.nerdygaga.com/3723/wedding-traditions-and-meanings/>.

"Weddings in Afghanistan." About.com Islam. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2013.

<http://islam.about.com/od/marriage/p/wed_afghan.htm>.

WORKS CITED