A Wedding in Palestine

Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.

“A Wedding in Palestine” from When I was a Boy in Palestine by Mousa Kaleel, 1914.

Parents in Palestine have much to say about the choice of a life-partner. However, it is seldom, if ever, that a young man or a young woman is forced against his or her will to marry. When a young man decides upon the girl, and has reason to believe that he is acceptable to her, he tells his father, and they both talk it over. Then, if there are no serious objections, they let their near relatives into the secret. These relatives pay the parents of the girl a visit, and hint at its object. As soon as the girl’s parents understand their meaning, they give their consent, providing, of course, that they find no objection to the proposal. This is the first step. The next step is the engagement fete, at which the parents of the man formally ask for the girl, and the two families arrange the terms.

Weddings are usually celebrated on Sunday, because it is a holiday, and all the men can be present. All the details are arranged beforehand, and the real festivities begin on Saturday evening. This celebration is called “Milaab,” and is participated in joyfully by the bridegroom and his friends.

At the Milaab there is a blazing fire of brush, which is continually fed. Beside it the men and youths form two lines facing each other. One side sings a stanza of the song while the others clap their hands; then in its turn the second side sings another stanza while the former singers clap their hands. As they clap they execute a swaying motion which ends by each one stamping his right foot on the ground. Sometimes one man will start an impromptu song. The composer passes the first two lines along, until every one knows them. Then they sing them, and the other side simply repeats the same words. In the time thus gained the composer improvises more lines. The songs are usually of love and its power. While this festivity is going on the old men sit and talk and drink coffee.

The women, in the meantime, are having their celebration and singing. Some of them can give a peculiar and highly thrilling cry, called the “Zagroot.” This stirs up the men more than anything else, and they continue their singing more heartily than ever. The women cry this Zagroot on occasions other than marriage ceremonies. In time of battle, for instance, it is a great inspiration. It is told that on one occasion a great rock, needed for the baptismal services in the Greek Church, was being rolled from the country into the village. It was tied with ropes, and many men, having disdained the services of animals for pulling, were harnessed to it. They came to a very steep place, and there was a stop in the operations; the men were fagged, and could pull the rock no farther. So the old men who directed the affair wisely sent for some young women to come and sing. At the sound of the Zagroot the men tugged mightily at the rock and rolled it up the hill with great ease.

The wedding ceremony usually takes place in the afternoon. Many young “sports'' come from different villages to share in the celebration. When the bridegroom is ready, he mounts a horse, and the young men form a ring in front of him. A broadsword dancer stands in the center and leads the impassioned singing.

The men dance violently and clap their hands, singing the song of Sahjeh as an accompaniment, while they escort the bridegroom slowly toward the church. After they have arrived, the bride comes amidst similar singing and rejoicing. She is veiled, and carries a sword in front of her face. She and the bridegroom, with a few of their near relatives, enter the church, where the marriage ceremony is performed. Most of the attendants and participants in the celebration remain in the yard during the ceremony. When the married couple come out, their friends fire pistols and guns, and start for the home of the bridegroom. At the tribal coffeehouse he is given a reception, followed by a great banquet and the presentation of gifts.

Here is a translation of the song of Sahjeh, which the bridegroom's friends sing:

Song of Sajeh

Good evening, all ye who are present;
In the middle of the garden is a green-bird chirping to you.

O mother of the only one, bless thee for what thou did for him!
On his wedding day thou didst grind his flour at Zerka.

Were it not for love we'd not come walking,
Nor would we tread on your ground.

Good evening, thou owner of a silver rosary!
After starting lovingly, why is there hatred?

Good evening, O possessor of an amber rosary!
After starting lovingly, why dost thou fight?

The sands cannot be kneaded, nor the thorns trodden,
Nor the secret displayed to all the people.

How many palms have we climbed without ladder,
And how many offenses of friends have we overlooked!

O sweet, O beautiful, thy letter came to us;
As we read it how our tears flowed!

O excellent sweet, moving thy lips,
Thou hast wounded hearts. We beg thee let us come to thee.

For my friend, friendship should abide;
As for the disloyal, the day of judgment shall find him.

For what reason dost thou close thine eyes without sleeping?
Thou pleasest me not, but other people.

I shall rush on you at noon, you who are in my mind.
With the sword shall I charge you in the darkness of the night;

O beloved, O beloved, thou whom the heart desires,
Thou wilt weep tears of grief when thou seest us.

I passed by their house and said not a word;
The tears from my eyes dropped before me on the stone.

The tree of love is cast out by the gate of Damascus;
I was dying, and my friend came not to me.

The tree of love at the gate of Damascus is swaying;
I was dying, and my friend did not come to ask.

O tree of love, at the gate of Damascus, thou art green;
I was near to dying, and my friend came not once.

Do not think that good style consists in ample clothing:
Good style is providing dishes for the men.

Do not think that good style consists in elegant robes:
Good style consists in large trenchers, in kindness and generosity.

O Egypt, oh, how far off art thou, in whom is the beloved!
If I live another year I must surely live in thee.

O sweet one, bring thy bottle, and we'll drink and fill it:
Thy people are far, and thy country’s water is scarce.

What brought thee forth, gazelle, to roam?
To look on thy country, sweet, and return.

What brought thee from thy country, single, alone?
I want to look on thy country, and I want a friend.

Kaleel, Mousa. When I was a Boy in Palestine. Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Co. 1914.

Mousa Kaleel

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