Weddings: spices that mark them
Turmeric on the bride, saffron in the feast, and the spiced sweets of the wedding table.
Weddings use spice as food, as symbol and as ritual. Turmeric paste, saffron milk, cardamom sweets and large rice dishes appear in celebrations from Indian haldi to Persian and Moroccan feasts.
Rituals
In many Hindu weddings a turmeric paste is applied to the bride and groom in the haldi ceremony, and the colour is linked with auspiciousness. In some Muslim and Middle Eastern weddings dates, cardamom coffee and sweet rice are served. Custom varies by family and community.
The wedding feast
Biryani, plov, Persian polo, jollof rice, Moroccan pastilla and lamb tagines are all wedding dishes in different places, spiced to show generosity. Sweets such as halwa, baklava and wedding cakes carry cardamom, cinnamon or vanilla.
Gifts and favours
Spiced nuts, sugared almonds and boxes of sweets are given to guests in many places. In some traditions, rice mixed with turmeric or saffron is thrown or offered as a blessing.
Weddings on EveryMasala
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