MOROCCAN MARRIAGE

Moroccan Marriage in 18 Peculiarities

    Fairytale, traditional and colorful (and rhythmic vibrations!), The Moroccan wedding is like no other. The proof with this text which dissects 17 particularities around Moroccan marriage ... Long live the newlyweds!

1) Meet the families:

The story of a Moroccan marriage often begins with an encounter between two (or not, but rare) lovers between them and their families. consistent with tradition, the oldsters of the groom attend the family of the longer-term wife to "look for her hand". Most of the time, family meetings are a chance to seal the couple's commitment and therefore the family agreement, but also and easily urge to understand one another. To the question: "Do you accept your daughter's marriage to our son?" the solution (most of the time): “Oh my God, let's set the date for the engagement! "

2) The engagements:

The engagement, called khotba, confirms the engagement of the bride and groom ... Like marriage, they will be the topic of a celebration in their title with caterer, musical orchestra and parades of caftans. they will even be limited to an easy meeting of families (in the broad sense) and friends over a tea or a meal. Traditionally, they happen with the family of the bride who is liable for preparing the event. After the engagement ceremony, the particular preparation for the marriage can begin.

3) Preparations: 

In Morocco, preparations for marriage often take on a family dimension with which the parents of the bride and groom are happy to join, but also cousins, neighbors and sometimes even, when the event takes place in the countryside: the whole village ... -do-list of the organizers, it is often a question of caterer, room, neggafa (professional dresser), photographer, cameraman, decorator, musicians and other traditional orchestras who will accompany the procession of the newlyweds and animate the evening live.

Nothing is too beautiful, too lavish, too grand to celebrate the new sacred union.

The party can take place in a village hall, under a tent erected in the garden or in the street near the home of the parents of the bride and groom, see in the patio of a riad or on the roof terrace of a building, it depends. If the tendency is to shorten the duration of the marriage (formerly the ceremonial extended over 3 and 7 days), nothing is too beautiful, too lavish, too grand to celebrate the new sacred union. It is not uncommon for families to go into debt to fund a Bollywood-worthy event.

Because in Morocco, marriage is a major family, festive, social and religious event that paces the seasons and the years better than any other. If the trend towards personalization is timidly gaining ground in cities, it is always the faithful respect for tradition that prevails. The wedding invitation, when it exists, but it is often replaced by the phone call, itself relayed by the phone ... Arabic! As a result, it is not uncommon for the number of guests to reach 200, 300 or 500 people.

4) The exchange ritual:

It is common that, on the occasion of the engagement (or the ceremony of the act), the bride and groom exchange the rings by giving each other milk to drink and dates to eat (symbol of sweet and sweet life). Yes, Moroccan weddings have a perfectly kitsch Romantic side! 

5) The adoular act:

In Morocco, the passage before the mayor is replaced by the signing of the adoulaire act and for good reason: the concept of civil marriage does not exist here. The ceremony called el kaghet (literally: the papers) is a pretext for new family celebrations which take place, most often, in a select committee (close family and close friends). The marriage certificate is drawn up by adoul (a sort of religious notary) and signed by both spouses in the presence of witnesses. After the signing, it is customary to recite the fatiha (the first verse of the Koran) ... The kickoff of the party is launched!

6) The offering ritual:

Between engagement and marriage, it is common for the future husband to cover the happy chosen one with presents and offerings called Hdiyya. These can be symbolic: milk, sugar, dates, Quran, henna, flowers ... or materials: silky fabrics, caftans, handbags, jewelry, perfumes, shoes. The content of the Hdiyya varies, of course, depending on the financial means of the groom's family. Carefully arranged in large trays covered with conical lids called taifors, the gifts are given to the bride during a ceremony known as the Hdiyya ceremony which is preceded by a musical procession. It should be noted that these gifts are often equated with the bride's dowry.

7) Dowry:

A prerequisite for the validity of the marriage, the dowry (sadaq) is a sum of money or property constituted by the claimant for the benefit of his wife. Contracted by adouls during the ceremony of the act, the dowry is governed by the family code of Morocco which draws its inspiration from the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. So, to consolidate "the desire to create a home and live in the bonds of mutual affection", the future groom will offer his beautiful a pretty sum of money, livestock, furniture or an apartment (c 'is more rare)… If the legal basis of the dowry consists of its moral and symbolic value (Article 26 of the Family Code), it should be noted that it is more often the material value that prevails. To the point of being perceived as an economic burden by certain families who do not hesitate to put the dowry on the marriage negotiation table. Many couples, deeming the humiliating dowry also opt for the contribution ... of a symbolic dirham!

8) The Hammam ritual - EVJF Act I:

In Morocco, the EVJF (stag party) as we know it in our country is often replaced by a number of "before" ceremonies. 100% girly, going to the hammam is an ancient ritual of purification and relaxation which often precedes D-Day.

9) The henna ritual - EVJF Act II: 

After the hammam ceremony, make way for the henna ceremony which takes place the day before D-Day, or even in the afternoon before the big party. A hennaya (henna tattoo artist) tattoos the hands and/or feet of the bride, pulsed by the youyous and the traditional dances and songs of women (girlfriends, cousins, aunts, mothers, etc.) that follow one another. Everything takes place in a good-natured atmosphere (no wages, challenges or Chippendales in the Moroccan bachelor parties ...). The guests who wish to be tattooed do not cut the beautiful stylized and geometric arabesques, symbols of happiness and prosperity for future life.

10) Variants around Moroccan marriage:

Of course, Made In Morocco marriage varies according to regions, families but also the social origin of families. In the countryside, it is not uncommon for the preparation of the marriage to mobilize the entire douar (village) and drag on for several days. In certain regions of the Rif, diversity is not a must: women on one side, men on the other. The atmosphere is sometimes festive (the guests and the newlyweds dance), sometimes wise (the guests discuss and observe each other).

In the upmarket districts of the big cities, the wedding can sometimes take on the air of an Open Bar with DJ and champagne galore… or even turn into a “splinter” with 3200 round tables by the pleasure pool or floats a Welcome in “niniphars” (the floating flowers of Mrs. Tazi - Poke Gad ElMaleh)… You understood, in Morocco (as elsewhere), there are 1000 ways - or more exactly 1001 ways - to celebrate marriage!

11) The beauty salon:

The bride must be the most beautiful to go dancing (and even if she will not dance ... or little!). To do this, you must go through the beauty salon. Hairdressing, make-up, manicure, pedicure, hair removal, eyelash extensions, facials, varnish application ... We don't skimp on the total makeover ... even if you have to force (sometimes) a little on the dose!

12) Dress code of guests: 

Guests begin to flock to the wedding venue around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. The bride isn't there yet (she rarely appears before 11 p.m.). However, the visual and sound show has already started. Caftans, takchitas and silky ornaments parade to the rhythms of traditional songs propelled by the orchestra. The colors are everywhere: fuchia, golden, pink, red, blue, green, orange to the point that one wonders if the bride can compete. It is time for greetings, reunions, hugs and fruit juices, tea, petit fours, and dried fruit are invited to the tables.

13) The Amariya:

The procession of the newlyweds makes noise in the street ... Bendir (percussion instrument), ghayta (wind instrument) and traditional songs announce the arrival of the bride who is not long in making a very noticed entrance into the room. Sitting on her Amariya (a sort of wooden palanquin), the bride is lifted by porters in white capes who make her wander in rhythm in the room. The youyous flare from all sides, the applause resounds, petals of roses fly in a burst on the bride, the emotions are untied to the rhythm of the music. At that time, the guests are literally transported into the universe of 1001 nights ... And the groom, will you tell me? He is there, at the foot of his sweetheart ... yes but now, we barely see it ... And for good reason, looks are only for the bride!

14) Bride's outfits:

In Morocco, it is not a question of the bride's dress, but of the bride's dresses (note the plural of the word "dress") ... A real fashion show worthy of Fashion Week! Three outfits (the minimum), four outfits, five outfits or seven outfits: that's up. The high-fashion Takchita, a sort of long, silky, lined, satin dress held in place by a wide belt, opens the ball.

Caftans and regional outfits then take over. The fassiya (held from Fez), the R'batia (from Rabat), the Saharouiya (from the Sahara), the Soussia (from the Souss region) or the Chamaliya (from the North) offer a glimpse of the most beautiful clothing traditions of the Kingdom. The white, so-called European dress is very often in the game just like (more rare) the Indian sari. The traveler who has the chance to take part in the ceremony during a stay in Morocco is in orbit! Not to mention necklaces, tiaras, earrings and jewelry sets. The bride, a veritable modern-day Sherazade, will take your breath away ...

And the groom, will you tell me again? He is still there, erased behind the queen of the evening… It's not for lack of having made efforts to put on his most beautiful costume, his most beautiful djellaba, his most beautiful gandoura… But no, there are none always only for the bride! 

15) Neggafat:

True wedding planner "Moroccan", the neggafat are the guarantors of the respect of Moroccan nuptial rites. There are 4 or 5 of them assisting the bride throughout the evening. Timing, outfits, jewelry sets, makeup, hairstyle: nothing escapes them. Not even the folds of the caftan which must fall as it should for the photo or the posture of the bride who must be worthy of the official princess of Morocco. In the cities, we get the best neggafat, those who have their reputation or who are in fashion. Note that there are also some negaf '(men in chief) but this is rather rare.

16) The newlyweds' throne:

A raised platform surmounted by a sofa surrounded by cushions and flowers which stands out prominently in the wedding hall ... Késako? It’s the throne of the newlyweds! Between two parades of outfits, it offers its cozy seat to the lucky few who can thus be admired by all. For guests, this will also be an opportunity to be photographed alongside the stars of the evening. 

17) The wedding meal:

No seating plan for Moroccan weddings, we sit where we want, with whom we want. On the menu? The classic (and pantagruelic) wedding dinner (pastilla, barbecue, fruit basket and iced cake) is increasingly tending to be replaced by dishes and formulas inspired by other sources (dinner cocktails, buffets, etc.).

Throughout the evening, fresh fruit juice and mint tea accompany the pastries. Then, towards the end of the evening, the set-up made its entry and was a pretext for a whole photographic ceremony of "cake cutting". At some weddings, the harira comes to close the party in the morning, like French onion soup.

Do not look for champagne or wine, there is none (or very rarely): Muslim marriage requires. And if there are, you often have to look for it in a reserved bar, separate from the main room ... or even in the trunks of vehicles in the parking lot. But, you didn't come for this, did you?

18) The music:

If the event is visual, it is also sound ... Impossible for the neighborhood who would not be invited to the party to ignore the wedding of their neighbors! Arab-Andalusian orchestras (classical and melodic genre), châabi music groups (popular and festive genre) and/or Dakka Marrakchias (a popular genre of Marrakech) share the musical scene of the event which balances between ambient melodies and parts of rhythmic pulsations. When the assembly takes off, the claps of hands fuse, the dance circles widen and the bodies vibrate in tune with the pulsations. The most seasoned dancers shake their hips, shoulders, and legs in time ... It's party time!