As the royal wedding between Rajwa Al-Saif and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II of Jordan captures attention, cultural enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the blend of traditions that the Saudi bride and Jordanian groom will incorporate into their special day. In this article, we delve into the time-honored wedding customs passed down through generations from both cultures, shedding light on the anticipated union's historic significance.
While wedding practices vary across Saudi Arabia, Al-Saif is expected to follow Najdi traditions, considering her family's Sudair roots and their residence in Riyadh, situated in the Najd region.
Arab News spoke to Najdi native, Atheer Alhowaish, who shared insights into the region's rich wedding customs. He highlighted that some families now opt for destination weddings outside the Kingdom, such as in Paris or Dubai, with budgets ranging from SR100,000 ($26,665) to SR25-30 million. Additionally, Alhowaish noted that certain brides, who are related to each other, seek uniqueness not only in the venue or design but also by celebrating their weddings together on a single night.
While pre-wedding henna nights are common across the Arab world, they are not typical of Najdi celebrations. However, such celebrations are customary in Jordan, as evidenced by both Al-Saif and her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Princess Iman, who held henna night festivities before their respective weddings. The henna party in Jordan involves women from both families coming together to celebrate, while the bride's family presents her with gifts for her wedding trousseau.
Moving on to the wedding day, Jordanian traditions prominently feature the zaffeh, zaghrouta, and nukout. The zaffeh, a beloved element of Levantine wedding celebrations, comprises a lively procession of music and dance lasting approximately 30 minutes. This traditional performance involves upbeat music with lyrics praising the newlyweds, accompanied by drums, horns, bagpipes, and sometimes men carrying swords.
Another highlight of Jordanian weddings is the dabke, a folk dance performed by professionals, which eventually invites guests to join in the revelry. Characterized by synchronized stomping of the feet, the dance has various variations. The dancers are led by a lawweeh (waver), a charismatic improviser who controls the tempo and energy of the line.
Iyad Albelbeisi, founder of Jordanian planning company Feelings Weddings, emphasized the uniqueness of the Jordanian zaffeh, its melodies, dabke, and dances, which are truly one-of-a-kind. These traditions also find their place in royal ceremonies, Albelbeisi added.
Throughout the wedding festivities, women perform the zaghrouta, a high-pitched ululation with their tongue that is customary at wedding parties across the region. Additionally, Jordanian weddings often include the nukout, a tradition where money is given to the newlyweds to assist them in their new life together.
No discussion of Jordanian weddings would be complete without mentioning mansaf, the nation's iconic dish consisting of succulent meat, yogurt sauce, and rice, which holds a central place on the wedding menu.
In royal weddings, including Princess Iman's ceremony in March and celebrations among the general public, the multi-tiered wedding cake is often cut with a large sword passed down to the groom from his family.
As the Saudi-Jordanian royal wedding approaches, these rich cultural customs and culinary delights promise to create a joyous celebration steeped in tradition and historical significance.