The river press., 1914-12-02
when ARABS WE'D
Quaint Ceremonies Mark the Iona
Drawn Out Festivities.
WEEKS OF FEAST AND FUN.
And at the End the Bridegroom, II tis
Be Lucky. Escapes Without Having
Received q Beating At the Hands Of
the Friends Ae Has Entertained.

the Friends he Has Entertained.
Arab weddings begin on Monday
that is to say. the first preparation
commences on that day. when the
bridegroom sends to the house Of the
bride the canopy under which she will
walk in state on the following Thurs
day to his home Along with this, if
be is rich. he sends her a sack full Of
leaves Of the henna plant. so much
in use among the Arab women for
toilet purposes; also two or three
lambs, much oil and grain-in fact. ev.
erything necessary for the marriage
feast for the women. which takes
place in the brides house. Musicians
playing the tomtom and the zummara
(pipesI accompany the gifts.
Then a quaint ceremony takes place.
The bride. covered with a rich silk bar.
racan. and held by two women at
tendants, who grasp her firmly ON eli.
ther side Of the waist. advances stifily
and solemnly, preceded by third. who
walks backward, holding looking
glass in front Of the brides face so
that she must gaze into it us she walks
When she reaches the sack of henna,
still with the utmost solemnity she sits
down upon it seven times in succession
to bring good fortune to her future
home This is very ancient custom.
never omitted on the Monday.
On Tuesday, the henna leaves hav.
ing been crushed by the women, the
paste is put on the head Of the bride
and little on her hands. Then she
remains seated while her women and
girl friends gather round her. Each
in turn places her hand on the brides
head. extolling her many virtues. say.
ing how charitable she has been, how
generous. that she has given oil and
bread and clothes to the poor. etc.
Whether true or not is Of the least i'm
pOrtance.
On Wednesday evening her hands
are covered with henna, the whole of
the palms and the back of the hand as
far as the knuckles, so that they look
almost black. The feet are treated in
the same way, the whole of the soles,
and the rest of the foot in the shape
Of shoe.
Thursday is the great day. Now,
| after these ceremonies. after all sorts
Of preparations and much feasting
with her friends, the actual marriage
day arrives. In the morning the bride
Is perfumed with rich. strange oren-
tai scents. At 6 O'Clock in the evening
she is taken in procession under the
canopy to the house Of the bridegroom.
| Before entering the room where she
will be attired for the marriage she
stops outside the door to throw and
break an egg against the top Of the
| Intel AS soon us she gets inside the
room she breaks jar of water. both
"id customs. to bring good luck The
women dress her in fine silk clothes,
| With MANY gold ornaments and rich
silk harracan. all provided by the
hridt-roum. As Il matter Of fact. only
two or three OF the rich gold bracelets
ana on are given. the rest being
hired hy the bridegroom for the Occa.
| sion
'rh. bride is then left seated in the
room covered with Il great piece Of
SIX or cloth all over her and hiding
hct entirely from view. BY this time
her women and girl friends have all
arrived aud are feasGns and rejoic.
in. III one Of the rooms. Now the
bridegroom. who in the meantime has
been to prayer in the mosque. comes to
his house, accompanied by all his
friends. singing and making merry.
They all go into Il separate room to
feast. leaving the happy man to enter
alone into the room where his shroud.
ed wife awaits him. Each places a
piece of sugar between the lips of the
other as a symbol of the sweetness Of
the married life which lies before them,
and the bridegroom offers his bride
Gift OF jewelry or gold coins. The
guests remain till late in the night.
very often till the next morning End
less feasting and music entertain them.
for the Arabs have an extraordinary
capacity for enjoying both for hours
and hours at time.
For seven days afterward the bride.
richly dressed. receives innumerable
visits from her friends. Really this is
the time of her life, and she makes the
most Of it. On the seventh day she
offers them all yet once again great
feast. After another forty days they
come once more to eat at her house.
Then the wedding festivities are really
at an end.
All these customs are In vogue also
among the BedOuin Arabs. but they
have others. For instance, the Bedouin
bridegroom for seven days after the
wedding enjoys himself. wandering
through the gardens Of the oasis. doing
no work. always accompanied by Il
group of his friends. But ON the
seventh day he must keep a sharp look.
out. for on that day his friends will
Try suddenly to play a trick on him.
If he oScaneS them we'll and good