Marriage customs in Sudan

Marriage customs in Sudan By Hussein Hassan Ibrahim KHARTOUM, Mar 2 (KUNA) -- Sudanese society begins to focus on girls as soon as the child celebrates her 13th birthday party, with the mother teaching the girl how to braid her hair and how to cook. During this time, which is highly sensitive, the young girl is banned from going out except to school or in the case of an emergency. This symbolizes that the girl is ready for marriage and is considered an invitation for young men to come forward and ask for her hand in marriage.
Marriage in Sudan has its various customs and traditions, many of which have begun to disappear in light of general development. However, these traditions remain alive in rural areas and in a traditional family setting.
Asking for a Sudanese girl's hand in marriage has its rules and principles, as the young man never has the chance to see his bride, only proposing marriage having heard that a certain family has a girl in the age of marriage. To make sure of her looks and appearance, the groom sends an elderly woman to see the bride, and following his family's approval on the bride, the groom's father speaks to her father. At this point, the bride's father usually asks for two weeks to negotiate with the family, and it is during this time when the bride's cousins are asked if any of them are interested in marrying her. If none of them had their eye on this specific young girl, then the groom's family is given a favorable approval. Prior to designating the wedding date, the groom's mother and his married sisters pay a visit to the bride's mother, to ask for her hand in marriage once again. It is at this point that an approval is given with the bride's mother saying, "I give you my daughter so she can be a daughter to you and a wife to your son." A symbolic dowry is then given to welcome the bride to the family.
Preparations for the wedding procession are then underway, and the groom's family present the actual dowry made up of money, clothes, perfume and gold, in addition to food that is to be presented to the guests on the day of the wedding. When the dowry is given, the wedding date is finally set. Following the setting of the wedding date, the bride is locked in her room for three months where she sees no sunlight for the time leading up to the wedding. During this three-month period, the bride's mother and aunts prepare a special perfume for her, custom made from musk, amber and sandalwood, among other fragrances. Three nights before the wedding day, the bridal room is prepared, which marks the commencement of the bridal ritual. First of all, henna is applied to the bride's hands and feet, and then the bridal room is decorated with palm leaves. Red carpets decorate the floor, and a wooden bed is brought in, covered with palm leaves and a red mattress, on which the bride - dressed in traditional red Sudanese garb- sits while the henna is being applied. In front of the bride lies a large plate of red roses, as red is the theme during the entire henna. The wedding party is held at the bride's home, where lamb and cattle is slaughtered for the feast, which also includes various other types of food. The religious ceremony is concluded at the nearest mosque following the maghreb prayers. Later at night, the bride starts to dress in her bridal attire, which is comprised of a short, sleeveless dress made of a shiny, silver material. The bride is then adorned with golden chains from her head to her feet, along with a bunch of red, silken threads draping her waist.
The bride is sent to sit next to her husband, after which she begins her wedding dance, which is made up of forty different dances. It is at this point that her husband tears the silken threads around her waist. The morning after, the bride's mother sends crates full of food to the groom's family, after which the bride once again dances for those gathered. This time, however, the performance is comprised of 15 dances. The bride is then taken away from her husband to a secluded place, where she is given the opportunity to rest and recuperate from her exaustion. Finally, the bride is then allowed to leave to her new home, accompanied along the way by an entourage of family members. (end) hha.naa