Colorful Ethiopian weddings showcase Ethiopian wedding customs and traditions. Traditional wedding rituals are still common, despite the fact that more and more couples are opting for modern weddings. Here are some of Ethiopia’s most popular wedding traditions. Two days prior to the wedding, Telosh is held. As a wedding gift, the groom and his family give the bride a bridal gown or jewels. The remaining guests present the bride with their gifts before the feast. When the bride’s father arrives to pick her up, the bride’s entire family gathers outside the house to sing a traditional song stating that no one will be let inside. Once the bride’s family has given their blessing, the groom must beg permission to enter and deliver flowers to his bride. Friends and family members follow them to the bridal car after she kisses the flowers. Knee kissing is an Ethiopian wedding tradition that doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the ceremony. At addition to the bride and groom’s parents, many older relatives gather in the wedding hall to greet their grandchildren. They kiss the knees of the family elders as they enter the room to show how much they value and admire their accomplishments. The newlyweds receive their grandparents’ blessings in exchange.
