Wayuu wedding style

Wayuu people is a native tribe from La Guajira, Colombia. Their economy is based on what they do with their own hands, craft things. They have suffered of racism because of their beliefs and cultural traditions.

One of their cultural traditions can be seen in what they do before, during and after a wedding is celebrated in between their members.

When the man wants to get married, he has to let his family know that he wants to start an affective relationship with his “dream woman” so for this reason the family has to choose a palabrero, is like a lawyer who is in charge of letting the woman’s family know about the man’s desire to get married with the her.

The palabrero is the one in charge of setting up a meeting with the woman’s family to decide the wedding day (most of the time a year later) and then after setting up the day, the man has to pay a dote to the woman’s girl (usually it has to be the same amount that the woman’s dad payed to marry her mother), this dote can be represented with cornelina and tuma’s necklaces, cows, horses, goats or other animals.

What the man pays has to be divided in between the woman’s family and he’s given some stuff for their future children maintenance.

Birth in Saudi Arabia

         Children are a precious gift from God, and the blessing of a child is a special time in a person's life. All cultures and religious traditions have certain ways of welcoming a newborn child into the community .Muslim women tend to prefer all-female attendants at the birth, whether they be doctors, nurses, midwives, or female relatives. However, it is permissible in Islam for male doctors to attend to a pregnant woman. There is no Islamic teaching that prohibits fathers from attending the birth of their child; this is left up to personal choice. Mothers used to give birth at home, perhaps with the assistance of a midwife. Infants were cared for by their mothers, who carried them everywhere and nursed them. Other women in extended households, including longtime domestic servants, participated actively in rearing children, teaching them Arabian culture and mores. Fathers and uncles and grandfathers did not take part in child care but played with the children, kissed them, and taught them genealogies and morality. They taught them generosity and hospitality by example.Intense family and kin-based socialization at home is now mainly a memory. Birth takes place at a hospital, and infant boys are circumcised there before going home (girls are not circumcised). A foreign maid or nanny who may speak little or no Arabic often does much of the work of child rearing. This is an issue that troubles many Saudi Arabians. Breast-feeding sometimes is rejected for not being modern. While much visiting goes on among relatives, conjugal family households today do not provide the rich family learning setting of the past.

Reily reyli 레일리 Sung- MIn LEE

This clothing is called Sam- be(삼베) , Korea' s traditional clothes for the funeral. But only the close family member can wear this clothes. This clothes are made of hemp, which is the plant of marijuana. Some people say this tradituon has started from 10th century. There was a prince from Silla(신라) that his father surrendered to the rival country Koryeo(고려). After losing his country he went to the mountain and wore Sam-be clothes, and ate grass until he died. Because of this incident Sam-be clothes are considered as a gief.

Islamic rites at the funeral

Death is an extremely sad and emotional time, but it may be filled with hope and mercy. In Islam, death does not mean the end of life, but it's the beginning of eternal life. Also, we pray for a dead person to ask for God’s mercy to him and raise the dead person’s level in heaven. This essay will discuss about Islamic rites at the funeral.

First of all, Islam encourages preparing the dead and shrouded as soon as possible to honor him. So, the dead relatives should take off his clothes and replaced by a shroud, a clean white cloth is characterized by simplicity, and wrap the whole body at least three times. In addition, Islam urges to use a soap while washing the dead body, then perfumes it.

Secondly, Islam has enjoined on society in general to pray for a Muslim individual, even if he is a young child. It is required to pray at the funeral what is required in the regular prayer, such as receiving direction, performing ablution and the place in which to pray. It may perform the funeral prayer in the mosque and in other places where it permissible to pray.

Finally, Islam forbids burning a body of the dead or destroyed it. However, Islam enjoins to put the body in a tomb, approximately, it is a one-meter width and about two meters’ length, and laying down the dead on his right side and his face and his body towards to the Kaaba (Muslims' direction when they pray).

In short, Islam honors human personality by burial, as well as pray for all Muslims’ dead with mercy and forgiveness.

Childbirth in Saudi Arabia

Childbirth customs are more traditional and conservative in the Kingdom than perhaps most other places. The tradition is such that when the wife goes into labor she will be admitted to the hospital where perhaps a female family member and the hospital staff will assist her through her labor and delivery.  The husbands are not by their wives side and instead usually wait in a male-only waiting area for the news of the birth.  If a woman is giving birth in a government-run hospital, this practice of no men in the labor/delivery area is further enforced because the woman is in a female ward with other women in the same condition labor and giving birth with the Saudi practice of unrelated men and women must remain separated from seeing one another.  But of course, after the woman has given birth, she is moved to a room (which may or may not be private) where male family members are allowed to visit her and see the new baby.  Separation of unrelated men and women will be maintained through the use of opaque curtains concealing other women who may be in the ward.

When the woman is discharged from the hospital, depending on the conservatism and traditions of the Saudi family, she may be released and go immediately to her parents home.  Many Saudi families practice what is refered to as the “40 day rule.”  After a woman gives birth, the woman is expected to have 40 days in which she rests and her body heals before she is viewed as ready to return to her home and sharing a bed with her husband.  During this 40 day period, the husband may naturally come and spend time visiting with his wife and child but he will not stay or share a bed with her.  And again, I reiterate this practice is not necessarily followed by all Saudis but some.

The father is pretty much expected to be in both the labor and delivery rooms with his wife. Classes and training are given to the couple during the pregnancy so the father can be a pro-active coach to his wife. And in many cases, it may be the father who gets to first hold the newborn child and then present their child to the new mother.  Of course such an experience forges an incredible bond between the new family – mother, father and child.  If these practices take place perhaps in some of the private hospitals in the Kingdom.

The traditional marriage in Saudi Arabia

Traditionally, the idea of marriage was tribal, related families encouraging their offspring to marry cousins or other relatives in order to increase and strengthen the tribe, or occasionally to marry into another tribe in order to heal rifts between families. Another reason for such marriages was that families knew the background of the partner, and this what has been usually common. However, in these days, this habit is gone. Now you can marry whoever you want.

If you are planning to marry, you should follow the traditional rules. First, the groom should go with his father or older brother to the bride’s father discuss and agree about the dowry. That’s fine, if the father or the older brother goes without you if you can’t go as long as the bride’s family knows you.

We mentioned the dowry, and the dowry might include gold, jewelry and clothing and is usually of considerable value. After the dowry settlement comes the actual marriage contract, which is conducted by a legal or religious representative. The bride is asked in the absence of the prospective groom if she agrees to the marriage and this question is then put to the groom. After agreement, the groom joins hands with his future father-in-law and, with two witnesses present, the marriage becomes official.

However, there’s another stage before the couple actually meet as man and wife: the wedding party. Celebrations are segregated, with the women in one section of the house and the men in another. Finally, on the last night of celebrations, the couple meet, accompanied by all their friends, and eventually leave on their honeymoon. On their return, they either set up home with the groom’s parents and become members of the extended family or – as is increasingly the case – set up home by themselves. 

To sum up, this is the way of the marriage in Saudi Arabia. There are many different style to marry in Saudi Arabia, but this is the traditional and common way to marry. Marriage has many different ways in many different cultures. So, we should be understandable with other cultures to not be impolite with their beliefs.

Module 3: Cultural Insights

Hello class!

This is our class blog where you will post your module focused activities. Please feel free to comment on each others' posts: this isn't a one-way medium! In fact, the more you share ideas, and the more you communicate, the more you'll benefit from the exercise.

For each module focused activity (MFA), I'll give you the topic in class, but the length requirement will remain the same: 200-300 words (minimum) that must be posted by 11:59 PM the day the activity is due. You're always welcome to post earlier.

As always, if you have any questions, please email me.

Becky