حوراء الحصن
01-12-2008, 12:06 PM
Weddings are big and joyous occasions for Omanis. I have chosen this topic to write about, because I know very well about it. Also I want to introduce how Omani weddings are organized. The following paragraphs are going to explain that.
Weddings around the world are not the same. Every culture has its own way for making weddings. In Oman we have a special kind of wedding. It has beautiful traditions from a long time ago and it is still until today. When the man wants to get married, he should follow several procedures. First of all, he must tell his parents that he wants to get married. If he likes a woman, he should tell them about her and they will ask about her. If he didn’t choose any one, then his parents will look for a good one for him. Also, if he wants special qualities and looks, he should tell them. Qualities like: beauty, short or tall, working or not, a relative or not …etc.
When the groom's family finds the right lady for him, they will tell the groom about her. If he likes the women's details, they will go to her family. The groom can't go to ask for the lady's hand on his own. There must be other men in his family. Like: his father, grandfather or uncles. They must have already received word that they are welcome to approach her father on such a subject. Then, the groom will go with his father and uncles to meet the bride's family on the set day. The groom's father will speak to the bride's father about their reason of coming. Then the bride's father starts to ask questions about the groom.
The bride's father asks questions like: his job, his salary, where does he live …etc. Then the bride's father asks them for time to think. It is normally not more than one week. During that week the father tells the bride about the groom and lets her think. Also he asks people about the groom's reputation. Then, the groom gets back with his family after a week. The bride's father lets the bride see the groom for her final decision. If she agrees, then the men will discuss the other issues. Issues like the dowry and they will set a date for giving it.
After that step, the groom can go any time to see the bride and talk with her. The couple will discuss the dowry. The dowry can be an amount of money or some sort of variety of gifts. When the set day of giving a dowry comes, the groom must give it by himself. The dowry doesn’t get sent in a closed envelop, it is considered disrespecting, because it is like you are buying something from the market. Instead it is accompanied with some gifts, such as clothes, watches, perfumes, furniture…etc. After that the groom invites the men in town to take coffee, fruit and halwa. In addition, he tells the people about the engagement. After that the engagement becomes official. Also, the bride's family invites all the women in town and tells them about the engagement. In addition, the women can see the jewelry and the gifts.
When the set day of the wedding comes, there are a lot of things to do. First of all, it has to be on Thursdays and Fridays, as Thursdays and Fridays are the weekend here in Oman. The bride's family prepares the bride very well. They decorate her hands and feet with henna. Also, they but on the make up at a salon. In the past the brides wore a green dress, but nowadays they prefer a big white dress, the bigger, the better. On the other hand, the men in the groom's family prepare the groom with a haircut and put an expensive scarf on his head and an expensive kangar. At night, they celebrate either in the house or in a hotel, or outside in an open space decorated for the occasion. The women arrive at first with the bride and dance. The groom arrives later. Then they sing together and dance. In addition, they take photos together. After that, the couple goes to sleep. After the wedding day in the morning, the bride's family visits the bride and the groom family prepares lunch for them. Also, people go to eat lunch and congratulate the groom. After three days, the groom and the bride leave for honeymoon to start a new family.
Finally as you read, weddings in Oman have special things and its own costumes. It is totally different from other countries. I hope you it as I do. I want our traditions to continue forever, because it is the source of happiness for Omanis.
Weddings around the world are not the same. Every culture has its own way for making weddings. In Oman we have a special kind of wedding. It has beautiful traditions from a long time ago and it is still until today. When the man wants to get married, he should follow several procedures. First of all, he must tell his parents that he wants to get married. If he likes a woman, he should tell them about her and they will ask about her. If he didn’t choose any one, then his parents will look for a good one for him. Also, if he wants special qualities and looks, he should tell them. Qualities like: beauty, short or tall, working or not, a relative or not …etc.
When the groom's family finds the right lady for him, they will tell the groom about her. If he likes the women's details, they will go to her family. The groom can't go to ask for the lady's hand on his own. There must be other men in his family. Like: his father, grandfather or uncles. They must have already received word that they are welcome to approach her father on such a subject. Then, the groom will go with his father and uncles to meet the bride's family on the set day. The groom's father will speak to the bride's father about their reason of coming. Then the bride's father starts to ask questions about the groom.
The bride's father asks questions like: his job, his salary, where does he live …etc. Then the bride's father asks them for time to think. It is normally not more than one week. During that week the father tells the bride about the groom and lets her think. Also he asks people about the groom's reputation. Then, the groom gets back with his family after a week. The bride's father lets the bride see the groom for her final decision. If she agrees, then the men will discuss the other issues. Issues like the dowry and they will set a date for giving it.
After that step, the groom can go any time to see the bride and talk with her. The couple will discuss the dowry. The dowry can be an amount of money or some sort of variety of gifts. When the set day of giving a dowry comes, the groom must give it by himself. The dowry doesn’t get sent in a closed envelop, it is considered disrespecting, because it is like you are buying something from the market. Instead it is accompanied with some gifts, such as clothes, watches, perfumes, furniture…etc. After that the groom invites the men in town to take coffee, fruit and halwa. In addition, he tells the people about the engagement. After that the engagement becomes official. Also, the bride's family invites all the women in town and tells them about the engagement. In addition, the women can see the jewelry and the gifts.
When the set day of the wedding comes, there are a lot of things to do. First of all, it has to be on Thursdays and Fridays, as Thursdays and Fridays are the weekend here in Oman. The bride's family prepares the bride very well. They decorate her hands and feet with henna. Also, they but on the make up at a salon. In the past the brides wore a green dress, but nowadays they prefer a big white dress, the bigger, the better. On the other hand, the men in the groom's family prepare the groom with a haircut and put an expensive scarf on his head and an expensive kangar. At night, they celebrate either in the house or in a hotel, or outside in an open space decorated for the occasion. The women arrive at first with the bride and dance. The groom arrives later. Then they sing together and dance. In addition, they take photos together. After that, the couple goes to sleep. After the wedding day in the morning, the bride's family visits the bride and the groom family prepares lunch for them. Also, people go to eat lunch and congratulate the groom. After three days, the groom and the bride leave for honeymoon to start a new family.
Finally as you read, weddings in Oman have special things and its own costumes. It is totally different from other countries. I hope you it as I do. I want our traditions to continue forever, because it is the source of happiness for Omanis.