Red Ribbons, Salted Coffee, and Crying — Oh My!

Back in the day when I was a newbie Turkish dizi fan, I remember watching one of the shows I was keeping up with at the time and being intrigued by the Turkish pre-wedding rituals. All of it was fascinating and so different from the traditions I`ve grown up with or had seen portrayed in movies and TV shows. 

Here are some of the most unique events that take place before a Turkish wedding.

Cutting of the Red Ribbon

The traditional Turkish engagement happens among a small group of close family members. Gifts are brought, refreshments are served, and rings or alyans are exchanged. What`s different about these rings compared to a typical engagement is that both rings are tied with a red ribbon which is said to signify like and longevity. Once both of the rings are placed on the bride and the groom`s fourth right-hand finger, the ribbon is cut by the eldest person of the family. The ribbon eventually gets removed. During the actual wedding ceremony, the bride and the groom end up moving the rings over to the left hand.

The Salted Coffee

One of the traditions that I find hilarious and heartwarming after having witnessed it in many Turkish dizis is salted coffee. Once the potential groom arrives to the bride`s house and sits down with the family, he is typically served a cup of coffee. Coffee is a very popular drink in Turkey, but what`s different about this particular cup of coffee is that instead of being sweetened, it`s “seasoned” with spoonfuls of salt. The groom is expecting it, but still needs to drink it to show his resilience and composure. The salt itself signifies the fact that the union of two people and their subsequent life together once they do unite will not necessarily be easy and sweet all of the time and that they need to prepare to be there for each other through thick and thin. 

Henna Night

Henna Night also known as Kına Gecesi in Turkish, is a fun celebration that happens a couple of days before the actual wedding ceremony. I got introduced to Henna Night through one of my favorite dizis called Sen Çal Kapımı and found it really beautiful and interesting. Once again the color red dominates this event, going along with the theme of the red ribbon during the engagement ring exchange. Red henna is put on the bride`s palms and hands. There is beautiful clothing, candles, dancing, eating delicious food, and…crying? That is one of the most interesting parts of Henna Night because yes, the guests are supposed to make the bride cry to show that she`s sad about leaving her family home, but that she`s moving back towards happiness as the wedding preparations go on and the actual wedding approaches. 

Henna Night could be viewed as a bachelorette party of sorts although it`s typical for the groom to join Henna Night at some point as well. The groom is often put through various challenges, although it`s fun and games and nothing more. Once that`s completed, Henna Night goes on and everyone continues to eat, dance, and have a blast. 

Are there any unique engagement and pre-wedding traditions in your culture? Drop them in the comments down below!

ieva | the dizi spell