Why Ethiopian Traditional Wedding Financially Depletes The Newly Weds

Ethiopia, a land of complex cultures and religions, has so many types of wedding ceremonies that we never believe exist. You definitely would expect to get some weird stuff in any cultural society. It is not my intention to go through all of them and discuss issues here, rather it is some of the unwanted stuff that tradition put on it, causing lots of financial strain.

Most wedding ceremonies you see in Addis Ababa and other big and small towns are not Ethiopian traditional weddings at all. They are adapted wester style weddings with a little Ethiopian touch here and there. If you have a desire to have your wedding the Ethiopian traditional way, you have to make sure you have a huge budget. Most traditional weddings involve a huge feast (party) where every member of the clan with extended family members, friends and neighbours are invited. Lots of newly weds and parents have been so badly depleted financially after going through an Ethiopian wedding.

Why would a family spend huge amount of money on a wedding? most of the times the celebrant has to get some loan, which will leave him/her in debt for a long time. Well, it is the status Coe. Spending much on a wedding and inviting everyone as possible to a feast is seen as a sign of generosity and great success to the wedding. Though families are hit hard on the finance, they feel proud by doing so. There is a lot of change going on in the towns and cities of Ethiopia these days that people are willing to do a wedding with a minimal cost. As we cut on cost we sure have to cut down the people we are inviting to the reception. Ethiopian traditional wedding is changing and I would say it is a good change.

The newly weds that are about to start a long journey shouldn’t be a victim of this tradition. If you are planning a wedding, my friend, do it according to your budget. Do you have to invite everyone just for the sake of making them all happy? I know how it feels. What would all my relatives, friends, neighbours and co-workers say if I don’t invite them to the wedding reception? They would definitely be disappointed, but it is my life that matters. Western nations have a lot to teach us in this. Wedding ceremonies are attended by very few selected family and friends. If any westerner is to be wedded in Ethiopia, i suppose he/she has to be aware that this tradition has a big influence in the way the ceremony is conducted.