Bitalsudan Sudanese culture and product site بت السودان

   Marriage, Family, and Kinship in Sudan

Marriage. Marriages are traditionally arranged by the parents of the couple. This is still the case today, even among wealthier and more educated Sudanese. Matches are often made between cousins, second cousins, or other family members, or if not, at least between members of the same tribe and social class. Parents conduct the negotiations, and it is common for a bride and groom not to have seen each other before the wedding. There is generally a significant age difference between husband and wife. A man must be economically self-sufficient and able to provide for a family before he can marry. He has to be able to furnish an acceptable bride-price of jewelry, clothes, furniture, and among some tribes, cattle. Among the middle class, women usually are married after they finish school, at age nineteen or twenty; in poorer families or in rural areas, the age is younger. Polygamy was a common practice in the past. Divorce, although still considered shameful, is more common today than it once was. Upon dissolution of a marriage, the bride-price is returned to the husband.
(Read more: Culture of Sudan - traditional, history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Sudan.html#ixzz1LXwgMp8g

     Henna

It is left to dry, then washed off.

If you are careful, your henna can last for over a month before fading away!
It's as easy as that!

Several days before the wedding, the Bride invites her female relatives and friends to an evening party called El Henna

part 1

•Three parts to a Sudanese Muslim wedding

•  Agged ceremony
  
  •Henna parties
  
  •Wedding day: Al Subhia, Jirtig, and party
  

Bride’s female relatives make perfumes

Blue Nile Chanle show about Wedding Ceremony and tradition

 

Aljazera Arabic Channel Report  about Sudanese Wedding Ceremony and traditions

Marriage between two people of different cultures and religions

• Ceremony respects the cultural and religious differences

• Wedding is a major social event to be covered by local media

• Groom must pay Dowery (Money and gold to his Bride and buy clothes and other staff as well spend at least $3000 on party preparations. The wedding is a big event in Sudan and the Festivities are spread over several days or weeks.

• Each culture among Sudanese Regions South, North, East, West, and Central have specific traditions, ceremonies, activities, clothing, food and music but the majority share some, or all, of the same traditions.

Music and dancing
 

  •  Bride’s clothes are made of a red and gold dress and a garmasees

•  Bride’s jewelry is gold

•  Bride practices her dances 
     Henna

     A Sudanese woman doesn't regularly wear henna until she gets married. Before the wedding day, the bride's female family members hold a party called a "Henna" ~ This is when they decorate her hands and feet with henna for the first time, sing, dance and have alot of fun! But, it's an all-girls party - no boys allowed!

How do they use it (Henna, not boys!) ?

     The paste is put into a cone that can be made of a sturdy plastic bag, and then it is used like a pen to draw beautiful drawings on the hands or feet.

        It is left to dry, then washed off.

       If you are careful, your henna can last for over a month before fading away!   It's as easy as that!

     Several days before the wedding, the Bride invites her female relatives and friends to an evening party called "El Henna"

• Henna is painted in elaborate designs on the Bride’s hands and feet leaving a temporary "tattoo"

 

  

 

 Men use Henna, too !

   If you think henna is only for women, then you must rethink. Men have it put on their hands and feet for their weddings, too!
   In the groom's "Henna Party" right before the wedding, his mother, sisters, and aunts get together; sit him on a decorated bed, and put henna on his feet and the palms of his hands (but not in elaborate drawing).

     Meanwhile, all his female relatives are singing and dancing, and his brothers and male friends all get one hand "henna-ed"!
    the Groom also has a Henna night with his family and  relatives and male friends. Female relatives will also paint henna on his hands and feet

• Hannanapaints designs on the Bride’s hands and feet in henna