Taif emerges as a sanctuary for Arabian horse heritage    International Year of Camelids 2024 under Saudi Presidency concludes    Elm, One sign MoU to enhance strategic partnership and support local content in communications and marketing sector    Commerce Ministry recalls over 88,000 Anker portable chargers over fire risk    Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza    New evidence suggests Russian forces shot down Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243    Iran's president halts cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog, reports say    Inquiry finds British committed genocide on Indigenous Australians    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Saudi FM receives message from Iranian counterpart    Cabinet reaffirms Saudi position of resolving conflicts through diplomatic means    Foreign Trade Authority leads Saudi negotiating team in second round of GCC-Japan FTA Talks    Inzaghi hails 'historic' Al Hilal win over Man City: We climbed a mountain with no oxygen    Milinković-Savić says Al Hilal proved critics wrong after historic win over Man City    Al Hilal stuns Man City and stirs the world: 'One of the greatest nights in Saudi club football'    AlUla becomes favorite global summer destination for photography enthusiasts    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    Al Hilal stun Manchester City in seven-goal thriller to reach Club World Cup quarterfinals    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Historic Jeddah's visual identity re-imagined through global art installations at Al-Arbaeen Lagoon    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Al-Aniyyah: A marriage tradition that is still alive
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 02 - 2016

It is no secret that marriages are an expensive affair in Saudi society for men. Left with the immense financial responsibility of raising money for dowry, the wedding, furnishing a home and various other wedding-related costs, many young men find themselves delaying marriage until they can afford to do so, often with the help of family. However, for those on limited incomes, the opportunity to marry may never come. Al-Riyadh daily reports on the unique tradition of Al-Aniyyah where relatives and friends pool money together so the groom can get married without having to borrow money from bank.
One of the social traditions that have survived the test of time, Al-Aniyyah reflects the solidarity that has long been the hallmark of Arab societies. Usually given to the groom before his wedding night, the gift can include non-monetary items such as furniture or even a car. The groom will have to reciprocate and help anyone whose gift he accepted when it is their turn to get married, thereby creating a sort of domino effect.
Cloaks and cars
During the wedding, the groom must wear a black, brown, or white cloak known as a bisht, which can be expensive to buy but is considered an integral part of the ceremony. Worn once on the night of wedding, many grooms borrow a cloak from a friend or a relative.
Another common item that is borrowed are high-end luxury cars. After the wedding ceremony, a couple will often drive to their home in a convoy of cars filled with friends and relatives. The car with the newly-wed couple is typically a high-end car that the groom may borrow from a friend and return a week later.
In the past, the families of the groom and bride used to provide the chairs, teapots, glasses, carpets, cooking pots and anything else needed on the night of wedding. The neighbors of both families would step in and help and some would volunteer to pour the tea or coffee in glasses and serve it to guests. Some even cooked food for the ceremony. Such group efforts allowed the groom and his family to save money on the wedding ceremony, costs which, depending on the wedding hall, can run into the tens of thousands of riyals.
Wedding ceremonies
Some grooms throw large weddings and invite as many relatives and friends as possible so that they can get Al-Aniyyah from them and use it to cover wedding expenses.
Depending on the tribe and region of the Kingdom, there are different traditions for Al-Aniyyah. Some tribes delegate a member to collect money from all members of the tribe and give it to the groom on the night of the wedding. The average amount given by each member is SR500 but can be much higher depending on the relationship between the groom and his relative or friend.
Often, the money is put in an envelope with the name of the donor on it so the groom's family can note the amount given and repay it when it is their turn to get married. If it is a big amount, the groom can return it in installments.
Some prefer to give Al-Aniyyah by reserving a suite for the groom and his bride in a fancy hotel or spa. Others give it in the form of gift certificates. Regardless of how it is presented, it is undoubtedly an old tradition that has survived and proved to strengthen social solidarity.


Clic here to read the story from its source.