Wedding Festivities

Weddings are a part of life no matter where in the world you are living. They bring with them joy, excitement, laughter, and friends. It is beautiful to watch as people commit their lives to God and one another, as they promise to walk together through whatever may come. Weddings also bring with them the particular customs and traditions of the people getting married, and it has been great fun to learn new ways of celebrating the gift of marriage!

A couple of weekends ago, I was privileged to join two very dear friends at their gurariũ. A gurariu is a Kikuyu pre-wedding party (think an engagement party with a twist). The celebration took place at the home of the bride’s parents, and it was full of food, speeches, laughter, and fellowship. My favorite part (the aforementioned “twist”) came after lunch and a number of speeches when I had still not seen the bride. I began to wonder where she was and asked a nearby friend. “Don’t worry,” he replied, “she will come when it is time.” Pretty soon after that, an older woman went into the house and led out a line of women, each completely covered from head to toe. They were all around the same size and height and they all stood in a row before the groom. It was then his task to “choose his bride” from the line-up. I watched the groom walk up and down the line looking for his bride, as the guests waited for his choice. Luckily, he chose correctly, and his beloved was uncovered. I was later told that she has worn a distinct color of toenail polish to give him a clue, but even her feet had been covered! I can only imagine how nervous they both were in front of all of their friends and family!

After the groom chose correctly, both families went into the house for negotiations and returned later to announce their success!! We all celebrated with cake, sodas, and lots of singing!