Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-05
Har,,iitons1 win,
A CAIRO MARRIAGE.
Some of the Customs Attendant Unon
the M0mentOus Ceremony.
From the English Woman


At Cairo the bride is conducted on foot to
her new home. walking under square tent
or canopy of silk of some gay colors. such
as pink and yellow. carried by four men by
means of poles at the corners Her figure
Is completely enveloped in a red cashmere
shawl, and supported on either side by a
riatron. The procession is headed by mu-
sicians; after them walk some couples of
women and young girls all shrouded, the
former in black and the latter in white silk
habarahs- In the center is a canopy. and
the rear is brought up by attendants and
more musicians The procession invariably
turns to the right on leaving the house
generally taking a circuitous route through
several or the principal streets for the sake
OF greater display. and devoting three or
four hours to the journey.
toward evening the bridegroom is con-
quoted by MS friends to the bath, and af-
terWard to the mosque at the hour of the
n1th namaz. If he is a young man. and
this is his first wedding, he may, like the
prlde, De honored with zeffeh, or process
son. on this occasion, and goes to the
mosque accompanied by a numerous party
and attended by musicians and men bearing
meshals, or cressets filed with pitch pine
chlps me imam accompanies him home
and, arrived at the door of his dwelling
pronor7ces benedction, all present join
ing in the refrain of Amin, amin," The
bridegroom entertains his friends awhile in
the selamlik, and then. leaving tho he
enjoyment of their pipes and coffot >.
ceeds to the womens apartments. be
young, II Is considered proper for an to
simulate at least some degree of ba sinful
ness at meeting his unknown bride, and two
OF ms ms friends perhaps carry him half way
to the haremlik or push him through it's
doorway with smart blows on the back,
throwing after him with no gentle hand
some OF the overshoes always to be found
n the anteroom of a Turkish konak.
AS the happy man proceeds up stairs he
comes upon bowl of water. which he up
sets with his foot, scattering the contents
IN all directions. AS he enters the nuptial
apartment the bride rises and salutes him
by KISSING his hand A veil has been thrown
over her head, and the bridegroom, as he
removes It, gives her present of money or
jewels. which is termed 1.-The price of the
uncoVering OF the face" He then spreads
the veil on the floor and kneels on it while
he recites prayer the bride standing
meanwhile behind him Ion it's edge The
couple are then seated side by side on the
diVan, while the old attendant shows them
IN mirror the reflection of their united
race utterfng at the same time convention
ally exaggerated good wishes for their hap
piness After serving them with coffee, this
mistress OF the ceremonies leaves the pair
to make each others acquaintance, while
she super1ntends the preparations for their
supper The hour COT this meal depends,
however. on the humor of the bride, whose
shyness or obstinacy must be overcome to
the extent at least of making her speak to
her husband before he can assume any
authority over her. Brides are generally
advised by experienced rhatrons not to re-
spond too readily to The advances of their
bridegrooms, who are. indeed, occasionally
compelled to resort to Stratagem in order
to break the magic Spell OF silence. word
orce ELECTED, the happy man claps his
hands, and the kouavouz brings in supper,
which consists of eggs sweets and fruits,
meats being excluded from this meal. in
the belief that TO indulge in it on this SOL
emn occasion would lead to future bicker-
fngs between the couple. Public festivities
are meanwhile continued in both the har-
enlik and seramlk of the house, at which
all the brides party are entertained.