A traditional Zulu wedding.

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by: fredfourie1970
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Word Count: 238
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 Time: 5:49 PM
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Usually, it is also about the connecting of two families and, quite conceivably, even two communities and is almost always more of a procedure, rather than an event.
In South Africa, a zulu wedding takes on many forms.
The bride may change her clothes three times during the day, in order to show off to her in-laws just how beautiful she is in variant colours.
For the wedding ceremony she will replace into a customary outfit. Her blazing red headdress is reminiscent of the hairstyle of her ancestors. Traditionally, this headdress was created of her mother's hair.
During the ceremony the parties from both the bride and the groom's side compete through Zulu dance and songs. after the ceremony everyone gathers at the groom's habitat for the traditional slaughtering of a cow by his kin, to show their recognition of the bride.
She then places money inside the stomach of the cow whilst the wedding guests observe. This symbolises that she is now part of the kin.
The wedding ceremony ends with the bride giving gifts in the form of blankets to her new kin. This established practice is called ukwaba. Even the long-departed family members receive gifts and are represented by the living ones. The family wrap themselves with the blankets in an open area where everybody will see. The audience keen, sing, and dance for the family.

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Originally published at Gifts South Africa