Wedding Traditions in Morocco
When: Historically, Moroccans celebrated weddings on Sundays in the fall at the end of the harvest, when there was plenty of food to feast on.
Attire: This varied greatly by region. But what they all shared was color -- and lots of it -- including yellow (to scare away evil) and green (to bring good luck). In preparation for the day, the bride and her attendants, or negaffa, would have a henna party, receiving temporary tattoos on their hands and feet (with the bride's being the most intricate, of course).
Activities: A traditional Moroccan wedding lasted up to seven days, with separate parties for the men and women. The first three days were spent preparing, partying and beautifying the bride. On the fourth, the couple was married. On the fifth and sixth days, the celebrations raged on. Finally, on the seventh day, the parties combined and the bride was placed on a cushion and held aloft in front of friends and family. The men would hoist the groom onto their shoulders, and the new couple would be carried off to a special room to consummate their marriage.
The Food: Fish and chicken, ancient symbols of fertility, were often served. Guests dug into
tajine (a chicken, beef and lamb stew mixed with almonds, apricots, onions and other spices) alongside heaping piles of couscous.
The Music: The bride and groom were ushered into the reception with a lively wedding march called the zaffa, complete with music, dancing and even flaming swords. Guests would boogie down throughout the night to the sounds of drums, tambourines and a string instrument called a zither.
Added Perk: Sure, the wedding was exhausting, but Moroccan brides got some serious pampering too -- namely, massages and milk baths (hammam) to purify themselves for the special day (er, week).
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