I'agclO-Tlieranailiaii Jewish News, I'riday. March 10, l')7()
WEDDING
(cont. (rpm page 9)
hunger and many anxieties until we had each piece safely in our hands. They were the priceless possessions that had been part of our family for generations. But at last we had them all here and I thought I could use these costumes to give the atniosplieiie of a traditional wedding ceremony in the old landr'
Since the age of eight Sho-shana has been collecting beads and trinkets for the bride. Since she was five she lias been embroidering.
It therefore was no problem to add a few intricate stitches where needed, or even make new outfits --exact replicas of those of the past. In fact, the life-sized tableaux at tlie Israel Museuni in Jerusalem displaying the colorful costumes of the Yemenite community are her work.
Her occupation, however, is dressing the Yemenite
bride in the costume of her ancestors. She comes laden with boxes and cartons to the home of the bride and hires out entire outfits from head to toe to the bride and wedding guests. For the wedding gown, she charges about $23, a sum considerably lower than that for the white dress of the Ashxenazi bride.
Even a sabra of Yemenite origin who marries an Ash-kenazi often prefers to be dressed as her grandmother was and .to celebrate the wedding in the old tradition. Often the family has kept some of the old costumes so Yemenite weddings are splendid, with the richly colored attire of the participants.
The bride's robe is made of cloth of gold while those of her women guests have fine silver thread trimming.
For centuries Yemenites have been famous for their delicate embroidery'and intricate filagree jewelry. The most outstanding examples of it may be seen at a Yemenite wedding.
It takes about four to five hours to dress the bride. The triangular head gear, trimmed with flowers and brilliant with glittering jewelry, weighs over 40 lbs. It resembles a crown, for the bride is like a queen, Sho-shana explains.
The Yemenite bride wears pantalon-type trousers. These are closely worked with embroidery and fastened at the ank es with red stitching, for luck. The material is rich and a star pattern is repeated in different places to symbolize the blessing, "Let the path of your life be strewn with stars."
Usually the young woman has her own jewelry or it is lent her by members of the family. If not, Shoshana provides that too. There must be a ring on every finger, masses of bracelets, chains of gold and silver necklaces, beads of amber and coral, pms and amulets shaped into the form of a tomb to recall the destruction of the Temple.
In a Yemenite village the wedding celebration lasts seven days. In accordance with tradition still observed m modern Israel, the bride's hands are dyed with red henna, which will not rub off for a month, thus commemorating the happy event.
On the henna night, .wo- : men dance around the bride, their hands and feet colored with different dyes forming stripes which bear a strong resemblance to Yemenite embroidery. The incense burner -carefully balanced on the head of the dancer is used, as it were, to perfume the path of the bride through life.
The womendance with pots and pans or beat out the rhythm with silver cutlery. Others stand . around in circles clapping hands and holding blue candles. U is an all-women's celebration in which the children.of the village take part. The bridegroom is not present.
He sees the bride for the first time on the fifth day of the celebrations and even then only briefly.
His mother and sisters lead the bride to the place of /honor^at the table and every--^e gazes^at the bride in wonder. Ours was riveted to one spot. ;How does she manage not /to sag under the weight of the jewels and cloth, and the. headgear from which only her eyes, nose, and mouth show?
It is her great moment and__ linko her with her mother. This is the day she has dreamed of all her life and she i,s ready to suffer a littlex disoomfort to regale herself in the splendors of her past. Of that Shoshana is quite rortnin ■ . ■
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