Tunisian wedding
There are ten million people live in Tunis, as you can see the state is rather small, though even at this small state there are several differences between wedding customs of different districts. Well, in general everything is clear. Tunisians are not so limited by rules like a number of other nations. Their life is more a like the common European life. If a man wants to get acquainted with girl there is no need for him to wander outside her windows waiting for her to look out. It is enough for Tunisian man to give a girl a twig of jasmine. In case if she refuses that twig – he is failed, but if she accepts the twig – they are acquainted.
There is a law in Tunis that forbids for men to have more than one wife, it used to be okay some years ago but today it is forbidden with law. Those who have more than one wife will be sentenced for imprisonment. There is also no obligation for women to wear yashmak. They are allowed to dress up just like they want to. Though, off course there are some rules of morality extremely different of those most European people have. But, in general the customs of Tunis are not as strict as they used to be some ages ago.
Just like Jews the Tunisians have a marital agreement that is to be signed by both fiancé and bride. So, the fiancé accompanied with his friends visits notary officer where he signs the marital agreement. After the agreement is signed by fiancé the notary officer goes to bride's house. There he has to give her the marital agreement in order she to sign it. During the signing the sura of Koran is read. Once the marital agreement is signed by both the wedding may begin. The municipality gives them marriage certification and so they are husband and wife since that moment.
Just like in a number of other Muslim countries a bride is obliged to have a lot of dowry with her. That dowry is usually some clothes, boots, and jewels and off course some stuff like furniture etc. for making comfort of her house. The duty to care about comfort is totally women's duty. She is obliged to care about furniture and other stuff. Well, it will be more right to say that they are the parents of bride who have to care about she had everything to be a good wife. There is a proverb that states "A baby is in the cradle but dowry is in the trunk". This proverb states that the dowry has to be preparing since the day of daughter's birth.
The wedding lasts for seven days. During the six days the fiancé and bride has no right to see each other. Moreover, there is a separate wedding party held at house of bride and at house of fiancé. On the sixth day the wedding party is held at the fiancé's house where everyone gathered together. As you can see there is a lot of interesting wedding customs for Tunisian wedding. It is a Muslim country though a lot of traditions are changed and there are fewer restrictions for Tunisian wedding. For example it is okay to have music at the wedding. Though, the henna ceremony is also typical for Tunisian wedding just like for most Muslim weddings.