Wedding in Ethiopia

Weddings are one of the biggest celebrations that go on for Ethiopians. In Ethiopian culture there is something called tilosh where the man buys some staffs such as clothes and somethings that will be helpful for his newly wed, and the day before the wedding he sends it by his men chosen by him to be in his wedding. The family has to accept those things for the newly wed since the man and the women are not supposed to be there. The things are approved by the family of the lady. On the wedding day the man goes to the woman's house to get her while everyone in her house is dancing and celebrating. When he gets there he goes to his wife gives her the flower he brought for her and before leaving to the next destination with his wife he and his newly wed has to kiss each others' families' knees to show respect. A wedding lasts almost all day through mid night! There would be one point when the newly weds take pictures and that is the time where everyone else could take a break. At dinner time though everyone gets to eat and laugh and enjoy. People dance with the newlyweds, take pictures and they also sign the picture of the newly weds.
After the wedding day there is usually something called melse which is when everyone wears the traditional clothing and have dinner, it is usually for the two families to get to know each other more and dance together. It sums up the wedding of the couple.

                          Fig. The groom meets the bride at her home in the wedding day

               Fig. The bride departing from her families in the wedding day

Fig. The groom and the bride having picture with the selected men and women

                                  Fig. a wedding accompanied by religeous ceremony

Wedding in Ethiopia is different in different regions.In many rural parts of Ethiopia marriages are arranged by the parents of the groom  and the bride with negotiation. Traditionally the groom's parents search for a bride for their son. Before they make any contact with the bride's parents they investigate to make sure that the famalies are not related by blood.