Teman
and
Kevin
Ethiopian Traditions & Melse
Traditions
The Ethiopian culture is one of the richest in the African continent. As such, Ethiopian weddings have several unique elements to them! Here is a compilation of what to expect when you attend our wedding weekend!
Food
Ethiopian foods enjoyed at weddings are typically spicy and largely consists of meats and vegetables. Beef, lamb, chicken and numerous veggie entrees are eaten with injera (a spongy sourdough flatbread prepared from and specifically made out of fermented grain flour). Ethiopian food is enjoyed by eating with your hand, specifically the right hand. You use portions of injera to pick up small provisions of food on your plate (don't worry you can use utensils if you like!)
Dancing
Eskista is a traditional Ethiopian dance, native to the Amhara region, performed by both men and women usually in a group. The dance involves rolling the shoulder blades, bouncing the shoulders, and jilting the chest. It is typically performed to traditional Ethiopian music, which in itself is produced with traditional instruments such as the krar, flute, drums and masinqo.
The Melse
On the second day after the wedding ceremony, the couple dresses up in traditional outfits called ‘Kaba’ and head to the place where their parents have chosen to host the ‘Melse’ (post-wedding party). This evening event is for close family only, and involves bread cutting and giving the bride a nickname. The family gets together to cut bread, as bride’s mother gives her daughter a nickname that everybody present will use in memory of the wedding. Every couple must have a Melse, as the entire Ethiopian wedding is incomplete without it.
The Groom’s Arrival
On the wedding morning, the groom gets ready at his home, in the company of his groomsmen. Meanwhile, the bridesmaids gather at the bride’s family home, where the bride starts to get ready. The family members also get the house prepared for the important visitors.
When the groom and his entourage get to the bride’s house, they find everyone, including the bride, ready. The people in the bride’s house go outside singing a traditional song that says they will not let anybody in. As part of the fun, the groom begs to be let in. After a short tug of war in the form of song, the groom is let into the house where he walks to the bride and presents her with flowers. The bride acknowledges this gift with a hug and kiss, after which they are escorted to their car. Everyone then leaves the house, gets into their cars and heads off to the ceremony.