FeaTUre
“Once a rapport has been established,
then a date is set and the bridal family
will present the groom’s family with a
list of ideas required for the dowry.”
This tradition has evolved over the
years, explains eric, and nowadays people
are more likely to request monetary gifts
rather than the customary cow or goat.
There are many different religions
practiced across the african continent
ranging from Catholic, Methodist,
presbyterian and traditional african. all
the ceremonies will take place within a
church where the priest or pastor will
bless the happy couple.
When a marriage takes place in
africa, both families are very involved in
every stage of the process. “an african
marriage is slightly different as we don’t
think of a couple just getting married
to each other, they are really marrying
the whole family, so it is important for
everyone to approve.”
There are up to 50,000 african people
living in ireland today and many of
A CHInese blessIng
With an estimated 100,000 Chinese
nationals living in ireland, this ethnic
group is one of the largest in the
country and, while China is steeped in
rich cultural customs, for the majority
of Chinese immigrants, their wedding
ceremonies are not too dissimilar to the
traditional irish version.
Kathy Teo is the elder of the Chinese
gospel Church in Dublin and says the
services conducted in her church follow
“
an african marriage is
these have taken their vows in african
churches across the country. While
different as we don’t think similar to Catholic weddings, the music,
of a couple just getting
fashion and wedding feast always
remains true to its african origins.
married to each other, they
are marrying the whole
MuslIM MArrIAges
family, so it is important for
There are over 40,000 Muslims in
ireland and, like some of the other
everyone to approve traditional weddings, an islamic
marriage relies heavily on the mutual
the bride has been accepted as respect of families.
customary Christian rituals. a daughter-in law. “The islamic contract of marriage is
“There is no major difference except The culmination of these rites results a simple yet powerful bonding of two
we don’t have holy Communion during in the official marriage of the couple. families,” explains summayah Kenna of
the wedding ceremony,” she explains. and following the tea ceremonies, both the islamic Cultural Centre of ireland.
however a traditional Chinese families will have a small lunch party “Traditionally in ireland the bride is
wedding is a very different affair where and, in the evening, a large banquet present with her family at the Mosque,
the couple is united purely by the will take place to celebrate the newly her father acting as her guardian. she
families and congregation present. wedded couple. will be asked if she has agreed to the
“The day of the wedding is very marriage and dowry proposed, which is
important,” Kathy says. “a ‘good day’ An AfrICAn weddIng usually a sum of money,” she says.
needs to be picked and first the groom, eric Yao is the coordinator for the africa “The groom and father of the
the best man and a few of his close Centre of ireland. he explains that while bride then join hands for a brief
friends will go to the bride’s house. They it isn’t possible to generalize about ceremony of releasing the bride to
have to give ‘open door’ money to get wedding ceremonies originating from all the groom and uniting the families
in, then perform a ‘Tea Ceremony’.” 53 african countries, there are a lot of through the marriage.”
The groom offers tea to the bride’s similarities between them. During the wedding feast, the
parents as means of seeking her “Taking West africa as an example, men and women celebrate separately
hand in marriage. after this has been the traditional wedding revolves and at the end of the evening, the
granted, the bridal party will visit the around the meeting and mutual groom comes looking for his bride and
groom’s house, where the ceremony agreement of the two families the female guests guide him to her –
will take place again. This signifies that involved,” he explains. they are then joined hand in hand
144 The WhiTe pages
TWP_133-184-EM.indd 144 28/07/2009 16:35:37
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241 |
Page 242 |
Page 243 |
Page 244 |
Page 245 |
Page 246 |
Page 247 |
Page 248 |
Page 249 |
Page 250 |
Page 251 |
Page 252 |
Page 253 |
Page 254 |
Page 255 |
Page 256 |
Page 257 |
Page 258 |
Page 259 |
Page 260 |
Page 261 |
Page 262