“I lend you my suit jacket, if you would like, it will look more formal,” laughs at me Wajdi, Palestinian from Nablus. I am looking on myself, trekking shoes, army trousers and T-shirt with silly legend. I have no idea, how the suit jacket will help me look more formal, but I wear it and hope. We are preparing ourselves for “jaha”, which is local pre-wedding tradition. Men from both families, friends a kiths shake a hand with the future groom and with the closest male members of the family of fiancé. He is officially asking them to marry her.
“After ceremonial can the engaged couple walk together on the street hand by hand or even kiss each other,” explain me deeper Wajdi. In front of the rented auditorium were standing men from the youngest ones in small suits to the oldest ones in traditional dress. Slowly I am going ahead in line, shaking hands with the groom and other men from both families. They are smiling on me. Over their no knowledge of English and my no knowledge of Arabic we wish each other nice day.
.
I am sitting in the chair beside my friends and listening the word of the fiancé’s father. Although I don’t understand the words, Arabic language have some king of melody which I like. In the end of oration comes short prayer. After its end the room is filed up by rumor and talking. The coffee and sweets are served to the guests; they can’t be missed on either celebration in Palestine.
All it take 20 minutes, I am thinking when we are leaving. Outside are standing on courtyard some men and smoking. “If you will be here some years ago, you could hear lots of shooting. We celebrate events by this way, but not anymore, not possible,” say to me Wajdi. Pity, just experience a lese.
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