Egyptian Wedding

According to some blogs I've read, wanting to go to an Egyptian wedding seems to be a not uncommon desire among travellers. I always thought it strange that anyone would go to another country where they don't know anyone with the hope of being invited to a wedding. I mean, in America the wedding couple spends weeks making and editing a guest list. I can't imagine going to someone else's wedding and inviting two strangers. But that is what happened to us a couple of weeks ago.

We found our landlady in the apartment next-door. Seems she was helping the woman of the house (Sarah) cook for the wedding the next day. After receiving the rent money, the landlady invited us to the wedding that was to take place in that apartment. This invitation was seconded by Sarah,who is the step-mother of the bride. What could we do but accept? The event was to take place "early"- 7 or 7.30pm. I say "early" because most weddings don't start until after the final prayer ends, around 9pm. And, I think most weddings happen on the weekends.

OK. What to wear? Froody and I take a look at our meagre wardrobes. I wanted a splash of color so wore a kanga from Kenya as a wrap and pinned it shut- don't want my arms to show too much! In spite of our tutors' reassurances that women wear whatever to a wedding, we decided to go conservative. Good thing as all the women were covered (and still looked great, btw).

We got there at 7.30pm and sat in the living room with all the other guests, including the father of the bride and the landlord. Sarah seemed very pleased to have us there. :-) Just then we all gathered outside along the stairwell to watch the wedding party arrive. I think there was a ceremonial part somewhere else and now was the community part/ party! There was a dj in the livingroom along with some friggin' huge speakers which pumped out loud music all night long. I mean really loud- it would have been a bit challenging to hear the tv in our place, the music was so loud!

After the happy couple arrived they were given the seats of honor. There was a lot of clapping and cheering all night. In Egypt it's mainly the women who cheer by making a trilling sound which carries throughout the neighborhood. Whenever you hear this sound it's almost always a wedding.(Morad said it could also be a new baby). Then the bride and groom have their first dance. At first, it looks like your first jr. high slowdance, but then the music changed and they both started shimmying and shaking, dancing like everyone dances here. And, the music and dancing pretty much continued during the rest of the night. The dancing stopped for the jewelry ceremony (Sarah walked around slowly with a box containing rings, bracelets, earrings, and a watch. Then the couple put the rings, etc. on each other and everyone got up to congratulate them.), the food (ah, so good! There were plates and plates of meat, chicken; cabbage leaves, eggplants, peppers, and squashes stuffed with savory rice, samosas, and a different rice), and the cutting of the cake. Once these events were over, it was back to dancing! Even we got pulled in and tried to dance with everyone.

Eventually, the bridal party left and we all ran to the balcony to see them off. They made a convoy behind the couple's car, which was decorated with bouquets of flowers and ribbons, and proceeded to drive around town, honking the horns and blasting their music! Sarah kindly gave us a plate of leftovers while they were cleaning up.

Once home, Froody and I reflected how everyone seemed to have a good time and even got a little crazy. It seems to me that here, any occasion for music and dancing is seen as a time to let off some much-needed steam.

Man, I really wish I could paint a better picture of all the food, music, and happy people.