Emirati wedding between past and present
For many decades, families have inherited marriage traditions that have been written by society since the time of the Badia. After all those years, many wedding rituals in the region still preserve their authentic traditional heritage, despite the changes imposed by the modern lifestyle.
The rituals of the wedding night, the night of henna and the bride's dress remain and have not disappeared for many families in many regions of the country.
The dowry is one of the basic conditions for any marriage. It has been customary for some families that the dowry is in the form of a large sum of money paid by the bridegroom to the bride’s father or by presenting a group of sheep or camels, or gifting gold jewelry from a drum or mireh..and preparing the bride. With all that she needs of gold, clothes, perfumes, sheel and others.
Usually, the zahba is placed in the bride’s room in the middle of a box called “Al Mandoos,” where you find mukhawir, shrine, oud oil, saffron, amber, Indian Nile, and Bo cage.
The Maaris is also required to provide the bride's family with sheep, sugar, tea, and foodstuffs such as rice and flour.
It is customary not to present the "Mir" on any day. Rather, it must be done on a Wednesday afternoon in a festive atmosphere of singing and applause. The procession proceeds until it reaches the bride’s house, where everyone prepares to receive their guests by preparing the most delicious banquets.
"Bringing off the bride."
It is a long-standing tradition requiring the bride to dress a large group of jewelery and gold, which is placed on her head and ears, for example, kwashi, bowl, shagab, and al-Shafaq, while the chest is sweetened with myrrh, trembling, and Umm Mafraqa. The hands are adorned with cardamom jewelry, Umm al-Mashashs, and Abu Shouk. As for the waist and fingers, they are usually encrusted with a gold belt and distinct pieces of the marami rings, the splint, the witness, and others.
Usually the bride begins her preparations early. For 40 days before the wedding date, the mother or one of the relatives or the “comb” prepares the “alwars” mask, which is an expression on a herbal plant known for its positive effect on the skin due to its softness. The hair is also applied with milking. Covering the bride with a transparent black veil or veil.
"henna".
Usually, on Wednesday and Thursday nights, the bride bows feet and hands, the "henna" draws the inscriptions with the palm in the form of "thistle" and the bridal bows "al-dhammas".
"The Nuts".
An ancient type of cloth used in the sails of ships in which a tent was made by which a group of women from the bride's family gathered to display the gold and gifts in front of the invitees, and this tradition received great attention in the past as the preparations required a whole week during which the women of the neighborhood gathered under the nuts in order to prepare the bride's supplies of clothes And spices, cosmetics and household items.
The bride’s family hosts the wedding seven days and nights during which marriage ceremonies are held before the wedding ceremony takes place to the husband’s house on the Friday night after the marriage ceremony.
The bonds and solidarity that characterize the Emirati society is highlighted during this occasion, as family and friends help in completing the marriage ceremony and all the preparations that preceded it, in addition to the gifts and sacrifices they present called "in kind". And many families are still keen on intermarriage with relatives, due to their firm belief in the importance of lineage in strengthening family ties and bonding between them.
Emirati weddings were distinguished by their distinctive artistic performances, the most famous of which is the Ayyala dance, which is usually performed during the celebrations of the bride's family, and in which about seventy performers line up in two opposite rows who dance and sing collectively to the tones of tambourines, tars and taws.
As for the zaffa procession, other dances are held, such as Liwa, Al-Malid and Al-Manahil.
Weddings in the UAE were a unique opportunity to eat the most delicious authentic Emirati cuisine, as it is customary to serve a dish of harees. Guests also have food such as al-Bubba, Marqouq, Khabees, and starch desserts that are prepared with pulp with ghee and sugar until boiled and served before the wedding night.
Also in the past, the Emirati bride lived with her husband's family in one house, where a private room was prepared for her, equipped with a box to put clothes, a mirror, an incense burner and some perfumes. In the summer, a pergola is devoted to it consisting of palm leaves and fronds. It is usually furnished and decorated with mats and equipped with a wooden bed.