Azerbaijan’s wedding ceremonies are rich with national rituals and customs, making them some of the most vibrant and culturally significant events in the country. Capturing the entirety of these traditions in a single article is a daunting task, as each wedding is a unique tapestry woven from numerous ceremonial threads. The esteemed ethnographer R. Babaeva eloquently described the sequence of events in Baku’s villages, which includes everything from the selection of the bride to the celebration of the couple’s new life together. This journey encompasses bride selection, matchmaking, consent acquisition, engagement, the presentation of gift trays, celebrations with godparents, the joyous spring holiday of Novruz, the unveiling of gifted dresses, bathing rituals for the bride, hen parties led by a toastmaster, the henna-dyeing ceremony, marriage registration, the first night, and the subsequent days of celebration. The journey continues through the early days of marriage, the bride’s pregnancy, childbirth, and the nurturing of the child—an entire world of customs and celebrations.
Let’s delve into some of the most captivating stages of the Azerbaijani wedding ceremony.
The groom’s family initiates the process by sending a representative to the bride’s home to express the groom’s intention to court her. In some cases, the bride’s family may initially decline the proposal. If this happens, a respected elder from the groom’s family is dispatched to seek the parents’ consent.
Traditionally, the first visitors to the bride’s home are two women: the groom’s mother and a close female relative. Once they establish a rapport, a meeting between the heads of both families is arranged. The groom’s father, accompanied by three respected individuals, visits the bride’s family to communicate their intentions respectfully. Initially, the bride’s father may withhold his consent, stating he needs to discuss the matter with his daughter. When asked, the bride typically remains silent, which is interpreted as a sign of her approval. However, formal consent is only granted during the matchmaking ceremony.
The groom’s father invites close relatives to his home to reach a consensus on the matchmaking process. The women from the groom’s side then visit the prospective bride to gauge her feelings about the union. Following this, they inform the bride’s mother about the scheduled matchmaking date. The bride’s family convenes to discuss the proposal, and when the matchmakers arrive on the appointed day, they seek the bride’s consent. If the bride is opposed, they receive a polite refusal. If she is amenable, the family takes time to deliberate. Eventually, the groom’s relatives return to the bride’s home, where they receive the family’s approval.
On the day of the matchmaking, the matchmakers are welcomed into the bride’s home and seated at the best spots around the table. The bride and her mother are notably absent from this gathering, as the bride must remain secluded. The groom’s father once again seeks the family’s blessing. When they respond, “Let Allah bless them,” everyone present echoes, “Amen,” marking the beginning of a new familial bond. The bride’s sister then serves tea, and sometimes a meal is shared. Once the matchmakers depart, the bride’s sisters visit her to offer congratulations and escort her back home.
Within a month following the matchmaking, the groom’s family visits the bride’s home for the engagement ceremony. This gathering typically includes around 25 to 30 attendees, consisting of the bride’s friends and peers. They gather around the bride as the groom’s relatives arrive, bearing a ring, a kerchief, and sweets. The groom’s sister, brother, sister-in-law, or father places the ring on the bride’s finger and drapes the kerchief over her shoulders. They then share half of the sweets with the bride, reserving the other half for the groom, signaling the start of the celebration.
Once the groom’s family departs, the hen party begins. The bride takes turns placing her right hand on the heads of her unmarried friends, allowing them to try on her ring. It is said that the first girl to wear the ring will be the next to marry. Afterward, the bride’s friends leave, taking with them some of the sweets as a token of this joyous occasion.