Traditional Igbo and American Weddings

Traditional Igbo and American Weddings In a traditional Igbo wedding, the man asks the woman to marry him. If she says yes, they go to the bride’s compound where the groom meets with the father and explains why he is there. The bride’s father welcomes his guest and then asks the bride if she agrees with the proposal. If she confirms, the groom comes back the next day with his father and elders to discuss the bride’s settlement price. Usually they bring kola nuts and palm wine to feast on. Most of the time, it takes more than one day to discuss the settlement price. After the groom’s family hands over the money and other prerequisites to the bride’s family, the wedding day is planned. Once the wedding day comes, it is usually held at the bride’s compound. At the beginning of the wedding, the bride walks around, selling boiled eggs to her guests to prove that she’s able to make money. After this is over, the bride’s father hands the bride a wooden cup filled with palm wine. She is given the task to find her groom in a crowd of guests while she greets them. Once she finds him, he takes a few sips of the wine, and they are married. During the ceremony, the couple dances while guests throw money at them or put it on their foreheads. The traditional American wedding goes a bit differently. Most traditional weddings take place in a religious setting, such as a church, synagogue, or mosque. Friends and family are formally invited to the wedding. There’s an usher to show the guests to their seats. In the wedding, aside from the bride and groom, there are bride’s maids, the best man, a flower girl, and a ring bearer. At the end of the wedding, the official marrying the bride and groom ask if anyone present knows of any just cause why they may not be legally married. If there is no response, the bride and groom exchange wedding rings, which are symbols for their never ending love and commitment to one another. After this, the official, in front of everyone,