A Traditional Engagement

Well I know this entire travel blog is out of order, but I'd like to go

back and talk about the engagement party I attended while I was here in

Morocco.  It was definately the most cultural event I have

attended, and I want to remember it!  First of all, I was invited

by my roommate Sofia and her boyfriend Hamza.  The party was for

Hamza's sister (also named Sofia) and her fiance to be.  First of

all, we travelled to Casablanca where Hamza's family lives.  Sofia

and I stayed with her Great-Aunt and Uncle.  They are such nice

people, and they cook ALOT of food.  WOW Pastilla!! It is amazing,

a flaky crust filled with chicken, sometimes pigeon, almonds, topped

with cinnamon and powdered sugar...who thought to put those ingredients

together?  Whoever it was got something right....Anyways so after

lunch Sofia and I headed to the salon to get our hair and nails

done.  I got a french manicure, and my entire head curled for

around 100 Dhs.  It felt weird getting my hair done for a party,

but they always do that here, the girls go all out!  Sofia also

let me borrow one of her Kheftans.  They are the traditional

Moroccan dresses that women wear for every major celebration.

They are long, with bell sleeves, and most of the women tie them around

the waist with a belt.  They also come in every color under the

sun, and some have extremely intricate designs!  They are very

important to Moroccan women and often are a sign of social class...most

girls have about 2 of them, but of course, the wealthier you are, the

more you can afford.  So we finally showed up to Hamza and Sofia's

house, on time.  That is a major mistake in Morocco, no one shows

up on time!  The band was still setting up and Sofia (the fiance

to be) wasn't even getting ready.  She was just sitting upstairs,

chatting with her friends, not at all concerned that, according to the

invitations, she should have been downstairs entertaining about 75

guests in her home.  My roommate knew this, but she wanted to

spend more time with her boyfriend so...we waited.  And

waited.  Slowly but surely, guests from the bride's side started

to trickle in, and, probably about 2 hours late, they were all

there.  The band had started, but no one from the groom's side had

arrived!  I actually got kind of nervous that he was going to

bail.  But then, 50 people showed up at once!  The groom,

along with his family and friends, all come together at the same

time.  How they organize this among so many people, I don't know,

perhaps they just wait out in the parking lot.  But it was

interesting that they organize it like this, and what it is supposed to

symbolize...something about how the groom's family is essentially

taking away the bride from hers...?  Plus the groom had some cute

friends!  So now, about 3 hours late, the party is ready to

start.  Hamza's family is wealthy, so there were professional

waiters serving drinks and food...no alchohol!  But some amazing

juices.  And caviar.  And chocolate mousse....mmm...At one

point, all the men in the family gathered in a small room, and everyone

at the party got silent.  They began reading from and reciting the

Qur'an.  I'm not sure what verse it was, but something about man

and wife...and Sofia later explained to me that this signifies they are

now engaged in front of God.  The Groom gives the bride the ring

in front of everyone, and they also sign "engagement" papers.

These events are often more private in the states, it was weird that

this was only and engagement party.  It was like a miniature

wedding!  After the serious events, everyone loosened up even more

and there was a ton of dancing to traditional music, chatting, and

eating.  I don't know how many trays of food they passed around,

but I managed to try one of everything!  All in all, it was a

great experience.  Everyone was welcoming, and wanted me to dance

to this song, try this food, learn this word in arabic.