Celebration

In my country, we celebrate marriage ceremony in three sections. These sections are civil ceremony, traditional ceremony and religious/church ceremony.

First ceremony is traditional wedding. The groom, parents, relatives and friends go to the bride's (girl's) place with some traditional alcohol made from bananas, some cows; the number depends on what their agree on and other stuff that will help to look after the cows. They represent their gifts to the girl's family. The girl's family aske the boy's family why they come to their compound. The boy’s family will say that they come to ask a hand in marriage for the bride for their son. At first, the bride’s family will say that they don't have girls who are for the age to get married and tell the boy side that they are at the wrong place. The groom family have to insist that that’s the right place and they are not leaving without the girl. After that conversation, the girl family will call for many girls who are different ages, starting to girls who are 2 years old to 65 years old and ask the boy to choose who he loves, however, the first list of those girls, represented, the bride will not be among them. This presentation of different girls continues until the right girl comes out. When the boy (groom) sees the girl she loves, he will hug her and say that she is the one. And then the handling bride to the groom side takes place. Then everyone began to enjoy together.

Second, we have a civil ceremony which takes place in court. On this day the couples and few family members attend the ceremony. They go to district court and register their marriage and say their first vows there and then sign marriage certificate. After they continue to the reception place where the couple eat chicken, and others eat rice, meat, and other traditional foods.

Last one is church or religious ceremony were the couple exchange their vows again in the presence of a priest, pastor or any anyone who has religion right to officiate the marriage. When the vows and rings are exchanged, the celebration continues in reception hall that end with lots of music and good food. Here, after eating everyone was invited to the dance and comes with his gift, the big gift is a cow!

My favourite one among these 3 ceremonies, is the tradition part where they trick the boy that there are no girls, but at the end they present her in his hand.