Wedding Details
This page was last updated on: September 15, 2008
We plan to have a wedding that combines aspects of both an Ethiopian and an Irish wedding. For our Irish and UK guests, we're sure you have a good idea of what an Irish wedding is like! Below is a short description of a traditional Ethiopian wedding. We won't be having the full 3 day wedding as outlined here but we hope to include some of the traditions! Irish and Ethiopian weddings are quite similar really, in that there's lots of dancing and drinking.
What we're planning
For most guests, the wedding will kick off in the afternoon, probably at 2 or 3pm, at a public garden which will be for our use only that afternoon. It's called the '19 Menefesha', as it's in Kebele (district) 19 (Menefesha is an Amharic word meaning 'recreation area'). It'll be specially decorated for the occasion and we plan to have snacks and a drinks reception there, along with a ceremony - think of it as being like going to the church except you don't have to sit through a whole service!
The dress code is 'smart casual' - it'll be hot weather so we're not insisting on anyone wearing a suit!
In the evening, we'll transfer to a hotel (at this stage, it's looking like it'll be the Axum Hotel) where there'll be more drinks and a buffet dinner, followed by dancing.
We will drive in convoy from the garden to hotel - this is usually accompanied by lots of beeping horns, some singing and dancing and maybe a few stops for photos along the way.
Traditions in Ethiopia
Traditionally, a wedding in Ethiopa takes place over 3 days. Most modern weddings still follow the traditions. On the first day, the groom goes to the bride's family home where her family officially 'give' her to the groom. There is a lunch at the bride's house. Usually, the group then goes to a park or gardens to get photographs. The wedding party then travels in convoy around the town, beeping horns, singing and clapping. They then go to the groom's family home, where dinner is provided. After the meal, there is music and dancing till late. Often, there is a side of raw meat at the meals, from which guest are expected to cut off a slice - raw meat or 'kort' is a standard dish in Ethiopia!
The bride and groom stay in the groom's house that night. The next morning, the best man takes the 'evidence' of the consommation of the marriage to the bride's family!! This would be seen as a celebration by both families. As far as we know, this is still the practice in rural areas. At more modern weddings, it may still be done but only in a symbolic way. The bride's family, being happy about this, give a reward to the bearer of the good news - this is usually money to buy a sheep. The sheep would be slaughtered by the best man and a big feast is then had by the bride and groom along with their 'best friends' (which means the best man, the groom's men and the bridesmaids).
Around 4pm on that afternoon, the groom will take the bride, along with the 'best friends' and his family, to her family home. There they have another feast, with eating, drinking and dancing. They stay that night in the bride's family house. The next day, they return to the groom's family house, with the bride's family, where another feast is had.
And that's it! Traditionally, the married couple would continue to live at the groom's family compound until they have their own home.
Of course, some of these traditions are changing in modern Ethiopia. But many weddings still follow the pattern of 3 days of feasting and celebrating.