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Weddings are a highly celebrated element of Ethiopian life. Christian marriages are often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom with a great deal of negotiation.
Rural women especially tend to marry at a very young age. In the past it was the custom for the bridegroom to be 30 years of age when getting married following the biblical example of Christ who waited until he was 30 years of age before beginning his public ministry.
Traditionally the groom’s parents search for a bride for their son. First they investigate to make sure that the families are not related by blood. Once this has been done they make contact with the prospective bride’s parents through a mediator. The bride’s parents often impose conditions and the mediator will arrange a date for parents to meet.
Once an agreement is reached, the man and woman get engaged, then set a wedding date. Weddings often take place during March and April because of the nice weather. The bride and groom first see each other on their wedding day. Traditional weddings begin at 6 a.m., when the groom arrives at the bride’s house and takes her to the ceremony on the back of a mule.
The reception is held at brunch, when there is much dancing and celebration. Wedding celebrations, whether traditional or modern, are always accompanied by high pitched singing, and much excited ululation. Food is provided by both families. The bride’s parents give the groom a dowry, in most case money and cattle.
A more modern wedding begins later in the morning, with the groom picking the bride up in a car and then going to lunch with their families. The reception begins in the afternoon and extends into the evening.
At the end of the ceremony the groom takes his bride to his parents’ house. The honeymoon will last one week to three months, depending on how well-off the groom’s family is. During the honeymoon, the bride is not allowed to go out during the day; she is only allowed to go out after sunset.
In Muslim marriages, husbands may have up to four wives. Large numbers of children are be a sign of status among Muslim communities. Muslim women do not have rights to own anything which is a matter of culture and as well as religion. If the husband of a Muslim woman dies, it is the husband’s brother responsibility to look after the wife and the children. The husband’s brother may marry her.
Nowadays many men and women in urban areas do not follow the tradition of arranged marriages but it is still important to have the approval of family.
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