Greek Orthodox Wedding

Saturday, March 15, 2014--from Ronna

The administrative secretary for Tom's department invited us to attend her wedding a week ago. Zeina Sawahla married Faris according to the Arabic traditions. A close family friend sat beside me during the first part of the ceremony and explained what was going on. Unfortunately, I have forgotten her name while learning the names of 85 new students this semester.

Zeina in photo shoot at her family estate before the wedding

The bride's family is from a wealthy and large, old clan from Madaba, in particular, and Jordan, in general. We arrived at the home of the bride around 4 PM on a Friday. The house and olive gardens are only two houses south from where we live, but you have to follow an indirect route of several kilometers to get there--typical of this country. It was sunny and just slightly cool with a Spring breeze caressing the trees. The bride was just finishing her photo shoot with her videographers. Pose, pout, click.

Traditional color guard to honor the wedding party with bagpipes, drums and chanting

Inside the lovely home, close family and friends had gathered, the women in one large room and the men in the other. Coffee in tiny glasses and water was served and a little sweet (a bite-size baklava straight from the deli of the gods). Drums and music were played and the women surrounded the bride, dancing and swaying, arms lifted up and fingers snapping. The bride danced, too. Every so often the women would erupt into a high-pitched gobble yell. It is done with a curled, flapping tongue and sometimes fingers tapping rhythmically on the lips. I can't begin to imitate it. I think they must practice from birth.

Women's corner dancing and chanting before wedding---to give courage

More pictures of the bride and her parents and siblings are taken. Then, special gifts of money and jewelry (gold and diamonds) are given to the bride. Zeina received a gold watch from her father who fastened it on her wrist. Dancing continues and elaborate foil-wrapped chocolates are passed out to the guests. Then, the focus shifts to the male side when the uncle of the groom and other members of the groom's family enters the house. This is symbolic of one family accepting and joining the other family. It's a big deal. People have been killed because of one family not approving of a marriage to another family.

Grand uncles and male relatives in men's section of room

The bride's uncle stands and proudly recites the genealogy of the Sawahla family. He is basically telling the father of the groom and others that they are blessed to have Zeina joining their family. A gold cape is wrapped around another maternal uncle's shoulders (he is sitting in the room) which is a gift to Zeina and represents protection and comfort and will be used to wrap others in as the new couple meet life's trials. Then, the uncle of the groom and the uncle of the bride each drink a glass of coffee together which symbolizes that the groom's family has permission to escort the bride to the church where the groom and the rest of his family is waiting. The shared coffee rite is also is a symbol of future peace and harmony between the two families.

The family fleet of Porches and Mercedes to lead the wedding caravan

We followed the bride and company, her Mercedes draped front and back with a sling of real flowers and ribbons, into one of the Greek Orthodox churches in town. The groom met her in the courtyard and then with Mendelssohn's traditional wedding march, they follow her bridesmaid and groomsman (a brother and sister and usually only one of each) down the aisle to the altar. The priest gave a sermon with congregation answering with the prayers and then they said their vows. All in Arabic. The couple exchanged rings, they lit a candle behind the altar together and then walked back down the aisle accompanied by Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. The two families then joined together under a canopy in the courtyard and received guests. Close family and friends then gathered at a local restaurant for a meal and further celebrating before the couple headed to Sri Lanka for their honeymoon. Ah, to be young and in love again………..

Firas and Zeina after the wedding vows

Added Comments by Tom:

Well I'm not young but certainly still in love. Ahhh!!

I need to add that the celebrations of the wedding begin one week before the actual wedding. Traditionally, the marriage was announced in the church one week ahead. Then there was a week of dinners, dancing and celebrations leading up to the wedding.

I was invited to and attended a celebration at the bride's home two days before the wedding. There were about 60 people, again with males on one side of the large room and females on the other. Lots of greeting and treats until it erupted into joyous dancing, mostly by the women in a large cluster, dancing to music you could imagine Salome dancing to, loud enough to crush your brain. Then the traditional shooting of the guns ( including machine guns) into the air outside. A full course buffet of the best Arabic food was offered with the oldest guests first. Even if they didn't know me, I was offered the best hospitality and greetings. I left early but the dancing went into the wee hours.

Greek Orthodox Church after ceremony. Very modern building with traditional decor