The Siwan inhabitants are of Berber origin and have always been isolated from the rest of the world and this probably accounts for some of their very strange customs. The Siwan woman are living a very secluded life in the oasis. It ibis strictly forbidden for a man to speak or even see a Siwan woman, after she is married, unless it is his mother, wife, daughter or daughter in law. The custom allows the women to leave their homes only for few occasions, like a childbirth, marriage ceremony or mourning.
The midwife arrives at the new home of the bride before noon on the third day of the week long marriage celebration. The Siwan bride receives a ritual washing of her hands, face and feet (Arak n’ Teshca) by the midwife, which signifies the marriage has now been consummated. A large meal is shared for the first time by both parents and all the relatives of the groom. Sweet tea, cake and peanuts are served, while young girls and women dance for the bride to the special folk music.
On the seventh day (Shemata) of the marriage celebration, the bride will receive all her female relatives and friends for the first time. Only the bride of a wealthy family will wear the traditional black silk marriage dress for this special occasion in the evening. It is celebrated with never ending joyful talk, folk-music, soft drinks, hot chocolate, sweet tea, cake, peanuts and the heart of the palm tree. For every Siwan farmer the date palm is most important, because of it´s multiple use. By cutting out the heart from the centre of the trunk, the tree is being sacrificed, which only is done to honor one at important events. The groom sends it to his mother-in-law showing all the jewellery and clothes stored in beautiful decorated wooden chests and the household presents, which the bride received on the first day of her marriage.
With the purchase of his bridal doll you support a small income project of low income single parent women and their children. It gives them a chance to have some independence. This project has been initiated by Bettina Leopoldo, a Swiss social-ethnologist. She is now finishing work on a manuscript about the inhabitants of Siwa, documenting their culture, traditions, it´s changes and her unique experiences of living with women for twelve years.
May this Siwan bride bring you much happiness and extend you knowledge to another precious culture of this world we should try to preserve.
First published: 1986 Ethnographic Museum, Geneva, Switzerland, “Egypt the Oasis of Amun Siwa”, author by Bettina Leopoldo
Further reading about Embroidered Textiles:
“Embroidered Textiles” 1990 S. Paine, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London, United Kingdom
“Dreaming of Paradise” 1993 Museum of Ethnology, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
“North African Textiles” 1995 British Press, London, United Kingdom
© 1998 Bettina Leopoldo
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