10 beautiful Moroccan wedding traditions

Marriage is an institution imbued with habits and customs specific to each region of the world. The traditions that are still followed in current celebrations bring a very special aura to the wedding. Like those emotions that can be felt in Moroccan wedding celebrations. 10 beautiful moroccan wedding traditions.

The khetba or Moroccan engagement

Before they can marry, the lovers must become engaged. it’s about the khetbawhich will launch the preparations for the wedding.

The family of the future husband asks for the girl’s hand from his own family. Talks are under way, in particular for set the girl’s dowry and the arrangements for organizing the festivities.

When an agreement is reached between the two families, the khetba ends when the family of the young girl pays the dowry to the family of the future husband. The engagement is pronounced and the wedding preparations can be initiated.

As the party is often sumptuous and brings together many guests, the preparation period is often several months long.

Hdiyya or the offerings to the future wife

Between the marriage proposal and the formalization of the union, it is customary for the man to offer gifts to the woman he wishes to marry.

Dates, jewelry, perfumes, clothes, milk, sugar… They are offered during the Hdiyya ceremony, presented on trays covered with taifors.

As in many Moroccan festivities, music is played on this occasion.

Seven dresses for a bride

During her Moroccan wedding, the bride will wear no less than 7 different dresses. Each of them pays homage to one of the regions of Morocco.

• For the henna ceremony, tradition dictates that the bride dons a superb green and gold kaftan.
• On the day of the wedding, she will first appear in front of her guests in White Takchitasymbolizing virginity, purity.
• Then in a Mejdoub finely embroidered and golden in color.
• To represent Rabat, she will wear a Blue R’batia.
• For Souss, she will show herself in a Berber wedding dress, in a Soussia.
• In reference to the city of Fez, the bride puts on during the wedding festivities a Fasiya.
• The Moroccan desert is symbolized by the port of the Saharawi.
• Finally, she will put on the Chamaliafor the city of Tangier.

For the essential civil ceremony, the white wedding dress is often chosen.

Al kaghet

During the Al kaghet rite, the engaged couple are reunited to sign the marriage certificate. The ceremony takes place under the aegis of a Muslim notary, the Adel or the Adoul.

The hammam ritual

The passage through the hammam is an essential step for the bride and her female procession.

The future wife receives there a gentle and purifying milk bathin the middle of traditional songs and dances.

A moment that is both festive and relaxing for the woman who will marry her bride in the coming days.

The henna ritual

To bring luck, fertility and happiness to her future married life, the bride will receive henna tattoos on her hands and feet by a Nekkacha. The women who accompany him during this ceremony also like to do henna on one of their hands or on one of their fingers.

At the end of this ritual, the woman officially becomes a bride.

To celebrate this great change, a meal bringing together the two families follows the henna ceremony. On this occasion, the bride is showered with gifts, which are added to the wedding gifts. In particular, she receives milk, sugar and caftans.

The contest of a Negafa

For her wedding preparations and until the end of the ceremonies, the Moroccan bride receives the assistance of a Negafa.

Between right arm, assistant and wedding planner, she plays a big role in the smooth running of Moroccan wedding festivitieswhich often extend over several days.

The Negafa will in particular help the future bride in all the important decisions concerning her Moroccan wedding reception. She is the person who knows the Moroccan nuptial rites and who ensures that all are respected.

She is present during the ceremonies of the hammam, henna.

Endorsing the mission of dresser, she will in particular accompany the bride in the fitting and the choice of outfits and jewelry. The bride should wear traditional outfits while feeling beautiful and comfortable.

On D-Day, the Negafa is one of the four women who will help the bride to change 7 times.

The services of the Negafa will also be requested when choosing thrones, the Amariya…

Passages in Amariya

In a Moroccan wedding, the bride and groom enter in Amariya, late in the evening.

Each installed in a palanquin, a kind of sedan chair, the bride and groom are visible to all their guests, among whom they stroll. The entrance of the brides is done under the dinghies and to the rhythm of the châabi, the traditional Moroccan music.

At this time, the bride wears her white takchitawhile her husband is dressed in a white, light gray or off-white jabador.

Traditionally, Moroccan brides make a second visit to Amariya. The bride and groom have both changed in the meantime. The bride appears dressed in the Fassiya (or labssa fassia). The groom wears a white or gray djellabah.

During one of the two passages in Amariya, the groom gives a kiss on the forehead of his bride.

Wedding meal and harira

The traditional Moroccan wedding meal is often the one served to the guests. He consists of pastilla, a méchoui, fruits, cakes, a voluminous piece-montée.

At the end of the evening, the harira can be served, to help digest this succulent and hearty wedding meal.

The first family meal for the newlyweds

As soon as the bride and groom have taken leave of their guests, they and their families go to the parents of the bride and groom.

They share their first family meal as husband and wife, Aariss and Aaroussa.