wedding customs in Syria

In Syria the marriage proposal can be send by the groom to the parents of the girl requesting for her hand in marriage. Before yes or no, there can be series of negotiations over the various conditions of marriage like bride money called mehr, remarriage conditions for the groom, and her continuation of education if she is still a student and so on.
A Western-style ‘white wedding’ is becoming increasingly popular in Syria, but traditional celebrations live on around the country.
Most Syrian couples today celebrate their big day along the lines of a Western-inspired ‘white wedding’. Some, however, still insist on maintaining their grandparents’ traditional wedding customs. An ‘arada band director – a traditional musical group that sings and conducts sword fights during weddings and other celebrations
Party in the hammam
The groom, is invited by his bachelor friends to the hammam where, after bathing, shaving and having his hair cut, he is playfully roughed-up and stung with sharp needles in the hope that his luck will rub off on his single friends. 

“God help him through this night,” sing the 12 members of the Al-Sham Al-Qadeymeh ‘arada band as they surround the anxious groom. Soon, the excited singers dressed in elaborately embroidered vests, white cotton shirts and loose dark trousers, draw forth their traditional Damascene swords and engage in ceremonial swordplay.


When the clock strikes five in the afternoon, the groom’s friends knock on his door to take him to his wedding bath. Together, they bathe and celebrate with songs and food until sunset. Traditionally, an ‘arada band would be waiting at the door of the hammam to greet the freshly scrubbed groom. With cheerful songs and drum beats, the band would escort him to his family home where a mouled (a night of religious chanting) would already be underway.
During the mouled, friends of the groom gather to take off the groom’s bachelor clothes and dress him in his wedding suit, all the time singing traditional telbise (dressing) songs. Once the groom is dressed, the band engages in swordplay, before accompanying the groom to the location of the wedding ceremony. Here, the bride is already celebrating the marriage with traditional wedding songs and belly dancing.
The bride, on the other hand, buys four to nine dresses for the occasion and changes her outfit every hour. When she finally puts on the traditional white wedding dress, it is to signal that the party is over.
“The wedding used to be a fashion show, it even ends with a wedding dress,”.Today, weddings last less than 24 hours. They just have a quick party and then everybody goes home. It doesn’t feel like a wedding anymore.”


Damascenes make sure that everyone knows about the wedding by making a mubarake (congratulations party) one week after the wedding ceremony. People who did not attend the wedding can come to this party to congratulate the happy couple and give them a wedding gift. 

Syrian weddings are not all the same. They vary by region, social class, and type of people. Many people have mixed weddings but the most typical is segregated weddings. The wedding we will be speaking about is just that, segregated.

The bride gets ready at her house, where she is surrounded by her close friends and young relatives. The groom gets ready at his house, where he is also surrounded by his friends and young male relatives. Then the men take the groom the the bride's house. Frequently, they hire a group called "Arada" that will cheer and chant under the groom's house, and then accompany him to the bride's house to chant in the street. The words they say are often praise prophet Mohammad Sallallahu 'Alaihe wa Sallam as well as congratulate the couple.

Once they arrive at the bride's house, the groom enters by himself, while the crowd waits outside. He meets his bride, and often gives her whatever jewelry he brought her then they both leave to ride in the decorated car, while the girls ride in other cars, and the men accompany them in different cars. They head towards the rented hall, frequently honking their horns all the way.

When they arrive at the hall, where the women are already gathered, the groom will take the bride inside, while the "Arada" is chanting and beating the drums. The groom either stops at the door, letting the bride go inside by herself, or, more frequently, walks with her inside (the women at the party all cover if they even wear hijab). The groom stays for a little bit in the room filled with women, then leaves.

Once the groom leaves, the party begins. The songs, dancing,....etc.
Most weddings have music and dancing. Depending on the financial status, guests will be served some appetizers, sweets, and drinks, or there will be a full buffet. The size and variety on the buffet vary according the amount of wealth they have.

At the end of the party, the groom will come again, accompanied by his father, and the bride's father, brothers, uncles....etc. (If the bride does not cover, his brothers and other relatives may come too). Most guests will have left at this point. The men stay for a bit, then the couple leave to go to a hotel, or to their home. During the wedding, the men of the family will often have dinner together at a separate hall, while they wait for the woman's party to end.

The bride wears a white wedding gown, the groom a tuxedo/dark suit, and the women wear glittery dresses or evening gowns, with lots of make-up. There's also another event for the men, prior to the wedding, to celebrate Nikah. It is called (writing the book). Basically it's a gathering for men, but not much goes on other than some speeches, and maybe nasheed. Usually it's pretty quiet. Sometimes they tell the story of prophet Mohammad Sallallahu 'Alaihe wa Sallam. Dinner may or may not be served depending on the financial status.

And inshAllah in the end the happy couples lived happily ever after.