Lebanese weddings are known to be fun and energetic, with great food, spectacular venues, and lots of partying. Some say that several Lebanese wedding traditions have faded away with the times, but many still celebrate the event with age-old cultural practices.

Events surrounding marriage begin way before the actual wedding day, with the reception being the grand finale of it all. Since there are many traditions that occur in the lead-up to the nuptials, some Lebanese people believe that the reception should bring it all together with a bang. For this reason, there are also various traditions that are practiced on the wedding day.

Here are some Lebanese wedding traditions you should know about:

– Zaffé 

The Zaffé stems from the Middle East and can be traced back to the 14th century. This tradition sees the bride and groom being escorted from each of their family homes to the location of the wedding. It calls for music, dance, and often has many onlookers joining in on the festivities.

When they reach the reception venue, the bride and groom walk in behind the Zaffé, showing themselves together as a married couple for the very first time.

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– Cutting the Cake

The details of this tradition vary from source to source. However, it is clear that cutting the cake is an important part of traditional wedding celebrations.

According to the 365 Days of Lebanon blog, the tradition began in ancient times and was initially practiced by breaking a cake made of wheat or barley over the head of the bride. Now, the tradition is practiced through the cutting of the cake instead. The couple place their hands together (symbolic of their unity) and cut the cake (the wheat used to make the cake is symbolic of fertility and the cake’s sweetness represents the sweetness of their new life together).

Other sources also report the same tradition, however, they add that the cake is to be cut using a sword.

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– Fireworks 

It is quite common for the Lebanese to have fireworks at their wedding reception. Usually, it takes place after or during the cutting of the cake.

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– Dancing

Dancing is a big part of weddings in Lebanon. Often, weddings incorporate belly dancers as entertainment and of course, the newly-weds and their guests join in on the fun too.

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– Staying at the reception 

In many cultures, it is common for guests at the wedding to see the newly-weds off as they leave for their honeymoon or to their new home. It is tradition, however, for Lebanese couples to stay at the reception until the very last guest has left. It is considered extremely impolite and disrespectful for them to leave any earlier.

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Image: Instagram / blended.bliss

In many parts of the world, there are more celebrations than just the wedding day itself. In some Indian cultures, particularly Hinduism, one of these traditions is the Mehndi party.

At this pre-wedding celebration, all the women closest to the bride come together in celebration of the upcoming nuptials. The bride has Mendhi (or henna) applied to her palms, the back of her hands, and feet, and guests can opt to have some henna done too.

Mehndi is an ancient form of body art, which originated in India and across South Asia and The Middle East. It is often red, after being applied and having set, and the bride and guests can choose from a variety of designs.

The paste used to create the body art is made of a plant which has leaves that contain a dying agent called Tannis.

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The colour and patterns are significant. According to tradition, the deeper the colour of the bride’s mehndi, the more likely it is for her to have a happy marriage. Designs and patterns often symbolise luck, joy, love, and blessings and the bride commonly hides her groom-to-be’s name somewhere in the pattern.

In an interview with Byrdie, henna tattoo expert explains patterns and placements thereof in more detail. She said that henna applied to palms allows the person to receive good luck, adding that the application itself is what helps.

“Henna has a natural cooling effect when applied, which is said to have nerve-calming properties before the wedding day when placed on the hands and feet,” she explained, adding that “Commonly, the designs people get on their palms are the most intricate, and sometimes draw out a story using symbols and illustrations of the bride and groom”

Henna applied to the top of the hand specifically indications protection.

The exact history and origin of this tradition have been difficult to trace, due to migration and cultural integration. It is, however, commonly argued that the application of henna has happened for more than 5 000 years. Some suggest it comes from ancient India, while others say it was brought to India by Egyptians.

According to Aroha International, evidence shows that the civilisation of Babylonia made use of henna to decorate women on special occasions. They claim that the earliest text which speaks of henna, with regards to marriage and fertility, is from the Ugaritic legend of Baal and Anath.

Others, including the Huffington Post, have reported that its use was made popular by Cleopatra in Ancient Egypt, as she adorned her body with it. According to the publication, henna was used to paint the nails of mummies before they were buried.

Despite its unclear origins, henna is still very popular today. Have a look at some modern henna designs, to help you understand what it’s all about.

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Image: Unsplash