2 Read the following sentences and decide if they are true (t) or false (f).
1 A Roman custom was to dress the bridesmaids in a fashion similar to the bride's to confuse evil spirits trying to kidnap the bride.
2 The three-tier wedding cake is not based on the unusual shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London.
3 Every flower has a special meaning and significance and can display a special message.
4 Coming home from the church can not be equally hazardous.
5 Inviting women to be members of your bridal party dates back to ancient times.
6 This item of clothes was not worn in 1499 by Anne of Brittany, for her marriage to Louis XII of France.
3 Look at the statements about a traditional wedding entertainment in Egyptian villages. Read the text to decide if each statement is correct or incorrect.
The wedding festivities begin two days before the wedding ceremony.
Traditionally the arrival of the poet is the most important moment of the day.
As a rule, musicians arrive after the henna ceremony.
After the journey the poet is given refreshments.
Instruments are prepared for the wedding after the supper.
The platform for the poet and his musicians is settled at the edge of the village.
The seats for guests are in front of the platform.
The epic of Abou Zeid El Hilali is told by the poet the day before wedding.
The art of the poet lies in touching listeners’ feelings.
There are gaps in the poet’s narration which are filled in with music.
Wedding in many Egyptian villages take place traditionally after the farmers have sold the summer harvest. This is the only time of year when they have enough money to go into town and buy a trousseau for the future bride. The wedding festivities begin on the eve of the wedding which is called the “night of henna”. During the “night of henna” the bride’s hands and feet are painted with henna. This ceremony, which takes place in the privacy of the bride’s home, marks the beginning of the wedding festivities.
But the highlight of the day is the arrival of the poet. Although today many families have abandoned this traditional form of entertainment, the few remaining poets always receive an enthusiastic welcome.
The poet and his musicians usually arrive during the early afternoon, before the henna ceremony. After greeting him at the entrance to the village, a few local dignitaries take him to the house of the host family. There, he takes refreshments before having a sleep to prepare him for the long evening ahead. After having an early supper, he and his partners tune their instruments.
During the day, the village square is prepared for the evening performance. A platform is set up for the poet and his musicians. Mats are placed around the platform for the guests, and seats of honour are reserved for the local dignitaries. The children are the first to crowd into the square and sit as close to the platform as possible. After going to the mosque to pray, the wedding guests make their way to their seats. Finally, when everyone is settled, the poet appears on the platform. He is greeted with cries of joy, the entire audience is attentive to his slightest change of expression.
Every poet always tells the same story, the epic of Abou Zeid El Hilali. The poet never begins the story at the beginning, just as he never reaches the end. His art lies in his ability to catch the listeners’ attention and control their sympathies and emotions. There are a number of interruptions during the narrative for the musicians to play and the whole evening’s entertainment lasts for several hours.
The wedding ceremony takes place on the following day. The musicians play all the afternoon during the presentation of the bride’s trousseau to her groom’s family.