On Sunday (June 9) I was invited, along with two other women from school, to accompany the wife of the school's director to an engagement party.
We assumed it was a house party, like a shower, perhaps. Not so. It was held in a reception hall and probably a hundred women (all and only women) were there - at first.
It soon became obvious that this was to be a women only party- a time for women to have some fun without the cultural restrictions that many choose to adopt. For instance, some of the younger women removed their hijabs upon entering the room; the older women generally kept theirs on. Some shed not just their hijabs, but their outer clothes to reveal stylish, glittery cocktail dresses. One young women 'stripped' down to a mini skirt that only barely covered her crotch.
Everyone seemed to be related to one another or at least know one another. A great deal of greeting went on - right cheek, then left cheek kiss kiss kiss. Several children and a few babies also were about.
And the dancing began. All women. What a blast.I even had a go. Dancing to Arabic music involves undulating one's arms and swiveling one's hips and moving one's feet- all in time to the music. Which was a bit more than I could do - sober. Did I mention that no alcohol was served!
The bride-to-be wasn't present when we first arrived. Finally after about thirty minutes spotlights were aimed at the closed entrance doors, all heads turned, the music swelled, the doors opened ... and there they were - the glowing couple. She knew everyone, it was obviously her party, and he did his best to wear confidence while facing a room full of women.
After much clapping and smiling, he presented her with an engagement ring and then they danced. And they kept smiling. Soon other women joined the couple on the dance floor and the dancing and smiling continued.
The party started around 7. We were told that often dinner is served, but, that night - no dinner.
Instead we were offered coffee, then soft drinks and then desserts-lots of them. Considering the amount of sugar that was ingested, it's not surprising that the room was jumping with energy.
Finally at some point, the young couple climbed a set of stairs to a throne set up against one wall and had a well-deserved rest. I didn't envy their job that night- constant smiling and kiss-kiss with aunts, and cousins and nieces and sisters and friends. It must have been exhausting, but I think this was the official introduction of the couple to the family and was an important part of their eventual union.
And, by the way, I was told that the marriage was not an arranged one; the couple had met each other at the University.
At one point many of the women excused themselves and covered themselves up again and replaced their hijabs. The spotlights shone again on the doors and when they opened, five or six men entered...all relatives of the bride or groom.
Dancing started again. And a Jordanian version of a line dance ensued.
Eventually, everyone was danced out or the carriages were changing to pumpkins and it was time to go.
A final note: I didn't take many pictures of the women dancing. Pictures were allowed, but it was asked that they not be posted on Facebook. It would not be proper.
We assumed it was a house party, like a shower, perhaps. Not so. It was held in a reception hall and probably a hundred women (all and only women) were there - at first.
It soon became obvious that this was to be a women only party- a time for women to have some fun without the cultural restrictions that many choose to adopt. For instance, some of the younger women removed their hijabs upon entering the room; the older women generally kept theirs on. Some shed not just their hijabs, but their outer clothes to reveal stylish, glittery cocktail dresses. One young women 'stripped' down to a mini skirt that only barely covered her crotch.
Everyone seemed to be related to one another or at least know one another. A great deal of greeting went on - right cheek, then left cheek kiss kiss kiss. Several children and a few babies also were about.
And the dancing began. All women. What a blast.I even had a go. Dancing to Arabic music involves undulating one's arms and swiveling one's hips and moving one's feet- all in time to the music. Which was a bit more than I could do - sober. Did I mention that no alcohol was served!
After much clapping and smiling, he presented her with an engagement ring and then they danced. And they kept smiling. Soon other women joined the couple on the dance floor and the dancing and smiling continued.
The party started around 7. We were told that often dinner is served, but, that night - no dinner.
Instead we were offered coffee, then soft drinks and then desserts-lots of them. Considering the amount of sugar that was ingested, it's not surprising that the room was jumping with energy.
Finally at some point, the young couple climbed a set of stairs to a throne set up against one wall and had a well-deserved rest. I didn't envy their job that night- constant smiling and kiss-kiss with aunts, and cousins and nieces and sisters and friends. It must have been exhausting, but I think this was the official introduction of the couple to the family and was an important part of their eventual union.
And, by the way, I was told that the marriage was not an arranged one; the couple had met each other at the University.
At one point many of the women excused themselves and covered themselves up again and replaced their hijabs. The spotlights shone again on the doors and when they opened, five or six men entered...all relatives of the bride or groom.
Dancing started again. And a Jordanian version of a line dance ensued.
Eventually, everyone was danced out or the carriages were changing to pumpkins and it was time to go.
A final note: I didn't take many pictures of the women dancing. Pictures were allowed, but it was asked that they not be posted on Facebook. It would not be proper.
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