Marriage ceremonies in the traditions and heritage of Sudan

Marriage ceremonies in Sudan are one of the most prominent social and cultural events that embody the rich and diverse heritage of the Sudanese people. It is a moment that combines joy, celebration and time-honored traditions that express the country's heritage and deepen it in the Sudanese conscience. Marriage in Sudan is more than just a life partnership, it is a social and cultural experience that reflects the interdependence of generations and brings together families and communities of all kinds.

In this article, we will explore the depth of marriage ceremonies in Sudan, and the diversity of their rituals and details. Starting from the beginning of the preparation for the ceremony and ending with the moment of signing the marriage contract and the joyful celebrations that pervade the atmosphere.

Engagement customs in Sudan

In a moment full of joy and in an atmosphere full of romance and ancient traditions, families in Sudan gather to celebrate the occasion of the engagement, and this beautiful custom is embodied in a distinctive ceremony that expresses joy and social harmony. The engagement journey begins with the submission of a marriage proposal by the groom's guardian to the bride's family. For example, in the Khartoum region, the marriage proposal may be submitted officially and seriously, specifying the dowry and dates of future meetings until a suitable date is set for the engagement ceremony and the bride's gifts are also determined in one of these meetings.

Choosing an engagement gift is one of the important aspects of this habit, as the family applying for the engagement offers valuable gifts to the bride's family as an expression of appreciation and respect. These gifts often include precious jewelry, fancy fabrics, electrical appliances, or even large sums of money.

The engagement ceremony will be followed by a special social party in which members of the two families and close friends participate, starting with the slaughter of sheep and cattle, interspersed with entertainment and traditional music with drums, songs and hymns to enhance the festive atmosphere. The dining tables are carefully organized to ensure delicious dishes and meals that reflect the heritage and culture of Sudan.

Among the distinctive customs of engagement in some areas of Sudan:

Strange rituals of blessing with water: Engagement processes in some areas may include strange rituals related to the bride and groom blessing with water, where water is sprayed on them in innovative and strange ways to bless their steps until marriage and protect them from envy.

This ceremony culminates in a special moment considered the pinnacle of joy, the moment of exchanging rings and pledging to marry the newlyweds, as they express their sincere feelings and wish to start the journey of common life happily and peacefully. This moment is marked by sophistication and beauty and reflects Sudan's tradition of offering respect and appreciation to the couple's families.

The diversity of marriage ceremonies in Sudan and the strangest traditions

The Sudanese wedding has distinctive rituals and ceremonies that embody the country's heritage and express its social and cultural values. It is characterized by its unique atmosphere full of joy and joy, and the diversity of ceremonies that start from pre-wedding preparations and continue until the end of the wedding celebrations.

Henna night is one of the most important wedding rituals in Sudan, as it is organized two or three days before the wedding, and these ceremonies include decorating the bride with henna, music, singing and exchanging marriage congratulations. Women are skilled in drawing intricate henna patterns on the bride's hands and feet, and the occasion is famous as an opportunity to meet members of the two families and offer congratulations and blessings.

Then comes the wedding day, when the main celebration is organized, and this ceremony will witness a range of special events such as the bride and groom entering in a majestic procession, eating delicious food and dancing to the tunes of traditional music and folk songs. Sudanese traditional dress is also an important part of this occasion, as the bride wears the expensive traditional dress that is characterized by bright colors and wonderful artistic decorations.

Gartaqa: This is one of the very old customs, which is said to date back to the Pharaonic era, where both the groom and the bride wear red clothes, and the head of the family gives them a "gartaqa", a piece of red silk.

Spray milk: Both the bride and groom put some milk in a bowl and spit it it out in their future partner's face.

Lat: The bride comes with a piece of silk tied around her waist, which the groom cuts and throws to the audience

In this way, marriage ceremonies in Sudan show a strong influence from African culture, reflecting the cultural and historical diversity that characterizes the country.

The celebrations conclude with a farewell ceremony, where a special farewell banquet is organized to bid farewell to the bride before she leaves the groom's family home. This ceremony culminates in an atmosphere of sadness, over the bride's separation and leaving her father's house, mixed with joy and wishes for a happy life for the couple.

How important is marriage ceremonies in Sudan?

In Sudan, marriage ceremonies occupy an important and essential place among the tribes, as they are not just a celebration and can never witness marriage without ceremonies, as ceremonies are an integral part of the heritage and traditions of Sudan, which is considered a taboo to overcome and as a person who commits a crime In some societies in Sudan, there may be traditions or customs related to the punishment of people who are absent from marriage ceremonies, and examples of penalties that may be imposed on those who are absent from marriage ceremonies in some societies are:

Social punishment: A person who is absent from the marriage ceremony may be punished with social isolation, as this is considered a violation of social traditions and customs, and can cause him to lose his respect and community trust in him.

Financial punishment: In some cases, the tribal chief may impose hefty fines on people who miss the marriage ceremony, especially if they have confirmed their attendance in advance but did not show up without an acceptable excuse.

Personal punishment: A person who is absent from a marriage ceremony may be punished by personal means, such as loss of friendship or close relationships with the family involved in the marriage.

As marriage ceremonies in Sudan are of great importance, as they are an opportunity to strengthen family and social ties between families, tribes and friends, resolve differences between them, express the unity and solidarity of tribes and their connection to each other, and it is also a good opportunity to educate and transmit heritage and cultural values to future generations where young men and women learn about the customs, traditions and heritage of their country.

The customs of the newlyweds' family in marriage ceremonies in Sudan

Marriage in Sudan is notorious for not just an alliance between two people, but an alliance between two families and two communities. The family plays a vital role in organizing and managing marriage ceremonies in Sudan, as it undertakes the task of coordinating, planning and directing decisions related to ceremonies and rituals to ensure the preservation of Sudanese traditions, customs and heritage.

1- Providing emotional and material support (filling money): The family plays an important role in providing emotional and material support to the newlyweds. This may include providing the necessary funds to cover the costs of marriage and providing furniture and gifts for the new couple, as the Sudanese family is fully obligated to provide all the costs of booking the wedding hall, buying traditional clothes for the newlyweds, and providing the necessary gifts and jewelry in what is known as filling the money.

2- Negotiating marital details (saying goodness): Members of the two related families participate in careful negotiations on all details related to marriage, including determining the appropriate date for the ceremony and determining its place, in addition to determining the friendship and dividing responsibilities according to customs and traditions, and these agreements belong to the parents of the newlyweds only, as none of the newlyweds interferes in any of these details.

3- Organizing family rituals: The family plays a major role in organizing family rituals accompanying marriage ceremonies, such as engagement parties and family celebrations before and after the wedding, supervising the form of dances, celebrations, and the slaughter of cattle and the food that will be served.

Food at Sudanese Wedding

At the Sudanese wedding, the cuisine is famous for its diversity and richness, where a variety of traditional dishes and delicious desserts are served to please the guests and bring an atmosphere of joy, celebration and pride in customs, traditions and heritage to the occasion. Here are some famous foods you may find at a Sudanese wedding:

1- Sudanese broth: Bouillon is one of the main dishes in the Sudanese wedding, and is characterized by the diversity of its ingredients, as different meats such as beef or chicken are used with rich vegetables and spices.

2- Kibbeh: Kibbeh is one of the famous dishes in the Sudanese wedding, and it consists of dough stuffed with minced meat, herbs and various spices, then fried or cooked in traditional ways.

3- Molokhia: Mallow is one of the delicious and favorite dishes in the Sudanese wedding, and is characterized by serving it with rice and meat to give a complete and delicious meal.

4- Samosa: Samosa is one of the favorite delicious desserts in the Sudanese wedding, as it is characterized by a crisp dough stuffed with meat or vegetables, and then fried until it becomes crispy and delicious.

5- Traditional sweets: The sweets in the Sudanese wedding vary between basbousa, kunafa, maamoul, baklava and manoushe, and are served next to traditional coffee to complete the joy of the celebration.

The type of food and desserts can vary based on local customs, traditions and the preferences of the families organizing the ceremony.

Economic factors on marriage ceremonies in Sudan

Behind the happy moments of Sudanese joy are the echoes of the difficult economic conditions that affect the whole world, as the guests notice a gradual change in the atmosphere of the celebration. The wedding hall is simply decorated and acrobatic shows are kept to a minimum, reflecting the spirit of humility and economy.

The groom carefully keeps the "points" book, in which he records every financial contribution made by a guest, and these contributions represent an important support in the costs of the event instead of relying entirely on the parents as before.

The people became involved in designing the decorations themselves instead of delegating this task to hired people, and the number of invitees became limited to close acquaintances and closest relatives instead of the number of invitees reaching a thousand or two thousand people as in the previous situations, even the quantities of food became enough for the number of small guests instead of wasting food in huge banquets.

These simple and expressive moments highlight the challenges of life and the ability of Sudanese to adapt and innovate in the face of economic hardship, as they continue to celebrate the occasions with joy and optimism and their attempts to preserve their heritage and culture.

The future of marriage ceremonies in Sudan

In the world of marriage ceremonies in Sudan, the future is embodied in radical transformations that reflect the development of heritage, culture and social orientations of young people. For example, the future is witnessing an increasing use of technology in organizing and executing wedding ceremonies, as smartphone applications may be used to coordinate events and share details with guests.

In addition, it is possible that we are witnessing a trend towards renewed and innovative celebrations, such as weddings in technologically equipped halls or luxury hotels, and the use of pre-recorded melodies and music instead of Sudanese drums and bands giving the wedding experience an exceptional character.

Future couples may also be moving towards unconventional methods of wedding financing, such as online donations or crowdfunding, instead of the habit of paying money and obliging parents to bear all costs.

It is also expected that the use of technology and social media in organizing and promoting marriage ceremonies in Sudan, coordinating between families and inviting guests will also increase.

Moments of joy and affection: Wedding Week Ceremony in Sudan

In the world of marriage in Sudan, the "Seven" ceremony comes as an important and distinctive chapter, moving us away from the routine of daily life to a world of joy and celebration. It is a moment of joy and happiness, as loved ones and friends gather to congratulate the newlyweds on the passage of a week since they entered the marital nest.

On this special day, family and friends gather to honor the newlyweds and celebrate their start on a journey of shared life. The ceremony begins with the scattering of roses and flowers on the floors and walls in the marital nest, the slaughter of cattle in the courtyards, and the sounds of singing and drumming rising from everywhere.

Where delicious meals are scattered on the table, from grilled meat dishes to delicious sweets that arouse lust and pleasure, and then distributions and gifts begin according to customs and heritage, as many Sudanese families rely on a tradition known as "revealing" in the Sabwa ceremonies, where family, friends and acquaintances make financial contributions on the day of the feast. Each contribution is recorded in the "statement" book, which is kept by the parents of the newlyweds, as this debt is considered an expression of friendliness and love, and works to return it on similar occasions, whether in the same amount or in higher amounts.