The Xhosa people are a Bantu group native to Southern Africa. They belong to various tribes such as amaGcaleka, amaNdlambe, imiDushane and more. A traditional Xhosa wedding doesn’t just see the union of two people, but of two families joining. So what happens at a traditional Xhosa wedding?
Pre wedding traditions
Picking your partner
- The term is called ‘Ukuthwala’. This is where a groom will choose a partner to marry and once the lucky person is chosen, the groom will inform his family and approach the bride’s family. They will discuss their desires and reach an agreement followed by the bride-to-be being asked to spend the night with the groom’s family. This is a form of acknowledgement of the marriage.
Lobola
- A form of payment – in order to wed the woman, the groom-to-be has to pay her family in exchange for her hand. Traditionally, payment was in the form of cattle, but nowadays people prefer money. The amount is usually more if the bride-to-be is more educated and is calculated on her success.
Wedding traditions
The ‘night before’ rule
- The couple isn’t allowed to see each other the night before their big day.
Two-day event
- Celebrations normally go on for two days and involve a lot of dancing and singing.
To the streets
- The newlywed couple will take to the streets. They will walk together in the road to present themselves as a new couple to the community.
Two weddings
- Not all couples, but many of them, have two weddings. They have their traditional one and choose to have a modern ‘white’ wedding as well.
Picture: Unsplash
You’re planning your big day and you’re deciding on venues. A beach, forest and traditional chapel have all crossed your mind, however, those options aren’t engrossing you. So…
Bush breaks are no longer just reserved for weekends with Sibani Lodge’s brand new and diverse portfolio offering.
Situated on the world heritage site of Mt Savannah, near the Cradle of Humankind, Sibani offers local and international guests real value.
The luxury extends to wellness treatments, where you’re able to choose a treatment under the trees, near the watering hole or indoors. This newest addition to Sibani’s activity line-up aims to appeal to both overnight and day guests, where spa-rties, bachelorettes and special event requests are welcomed.
The plentiful game on site includes a variety of antelope and other non-‘Big 5’ predatory animals, which allows for walking trails on site and the opportunity to roam the expansive property at your own free will.
A ‘boma’ area caters for all guests as the central watering hole, offering the chance to come together and share a feast as well as tales of the daily sightings, around the campfire and under a ceiling of stars.
Be warned – this is luxury camping where hot water and down duvets come complete with the outdoor dream but if that’s not for you, Sibani also offers basic camping sites on a nightly rate for all those wanting to enjoy a fully-immersive camp set up on their own terms.
Prize Details:
Sibani Lodge: Two people will win standard full body massages, a romantic picnic for 2, value: R2000.
How to enter: Fill out the form below.
Our Winner:
Cheryl Wheeler
Competition Ts & Cs:
– The winners will be announced on September 3
– The winners will be announced on September 3
– Wine is not included in the picnic
– Does not include transport
– Winners will be contacted via details entered on the form
– Prizes are not refundable and cannot be exchanged for money
– Winners must be over the age of 18
– Winners will be contacted via details entered on the form
– Prizes are not refundable and cannot be exchanged for money
– Winners must be over the age of 18
Looking for a premium quality bottle of bubbles to celebrate with on your wedding day? Look no further than the Lourensford Brut 2014 Méthode Cap Classique from the…
A classic complement to any celebration, like Champagne, Grace du Roi MCC spends at least nine months developing flavour in the bottle according to French methods, resulting in a delicious, sophisticated bubbly perfectly suited to raising an elegant toast to the bride.
Made from Chardonnay grapes, the low yields from the dry winelands surrounding Paarl are hugely flavoursome. The grapes are harvested while still firm on the branch and fermented with only the slightest contact with French oak to create a beautifully-structured wine.
Best enjoyed chilled, the subtle flavours of Grace du Roi complement salty canapes like prosciutto, stuffed mushrooms and focaccia. The MCC goes particularly well with cheese platters and salty bruschetta.
Showing the versatility of bubbly, both the Sparkling Wine and the MCC also enhance heavier dishes, such as mussels in a creamy sauce, while also pairing beautifully with more subtly-flavoured seafood, like sushi and chicken dishes.
Prize Details:
Win 6 bottles of Grace du Roi MCC and R1 500 cash towards your wedding dress
How to enter: Please fill in the form below
Our winner:
Cindy Menigo.
Competition Ts & Cs:
– The winners will be announced on September 5
– Winners will be contacted via details entered on the form
– Prizes are not refundable and cannot be exchanged for money
– Winners must be over the age of 18
– The winners will be announced on September 5
– Winners will be contacted via details entered on the form
– Prizes are not refundable and cannot be exchanged for money
– Winners must be over the age of 18
Picture the moment your mom pulled out her wedding dress for the first time in years and your little-girl-heart fluttered with awe and excitement. That was your first…
Your wedding anniversary is approaching and you have no idea what to get your partner. After years and years of birthdays, religious occasions and relationship anniversaries it may be hard to come up with new ideas, but did you know each wedding anniversary year has an allocated gift according to tradition?
It seems to be unsure as to who allocated each years gift but there are a few theories. Many sources state that the allocated wedding anniversary gifts originated during medieval times in Germanic regions of Central Europe. Husbands would gift their wives with a silver wreath on their 25th wedding anniversary. On the 50th anniversary she would receive a gold wreath.
The 60th wedding anniversary is diamond but only after Queen Victoria announced her 60th year on the throne. It was known as her Diamond Jubilee. Before that diamond was allocated to 75 years.
Other than 25, 50 and 60 years there are no other theories as to where the other gift allocations first originated.
Have a look at each years gift here:
1. One year: Paper
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2. Two years: Cotton
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Cotton anniversary gift for this lovely family ??????? Order your custom anniversary portrait?
3. Three years: Leather
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4. Four years: Linen or fruits and flowers
5. Five years: Wood
6. Ten years: Tin or aluminum
7. Fifteen years: Crystal
8. Twenty years: China
9. Twenty-five years: Silver
10. Thirty years: Pearl
11. Thirty-five years: Coral
12. Forty years: Ruby
13. Forty-five years: Sapphire
14. Fifty years: Gold
15. Fifty-five: Emerald
16. Sixty years: Diamond
Not every anniversary has to be interpreted directly. Put your own twist on things especially if your year is quite pricey. It’s not about how much you spend but about the thought and effort you put into it.
Picture: Pexels