NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands, a country in northwestern Europe, is known for a flat landscape of canals, tulip
fields, windmills and cycling routes. Amsterdam, the capital, is home to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh
Museum and the house where Jewish diarist Anne Frank hid during WWII. Canalside mansions and a
trove of works from artists including Rembrandt and Vermeer remain from the city's 17th-century
"Golden Age."

Ethnic groups

Dutch 75.4%, EU (excluding Dutch) 6.4%, Turkish 2.4%, Moroccan 2.4%, Surinamese 2.1%,
Indonesian 2%, other 9.3% (2021 est.)

TURKISH WAY OF MARRIAGE.

A modern Turkish wedding will consist of a signing ceremony which is followed by a
massive celebration consisting of the bride, the groom, and their friends and
relatives. At the celebration, the friends and relatives will dance, eat, drink and
shower the bride and bridegroom with gifts and their best wishes.

Traditional Turkish Wedding

Nowadays, most weddings will be held upon the agreement of both the young man
and woman. However, you will still find that some marriages are always arranged.
Even if the young man and woman agree to the arrangement, both of their families
will still follow the traditions of a Turkish wedding.

If the marriage is going to be completely family arranged, the young' man's family
will look for a bride. The young man's family and especially his mother and other
female relatives will send word around, and the relatives and neighbors will start
presenting candidates. The candidate should be a young girl they have met in the
market, in a ceremony or a gathering.
After they have identified the young woman, the young man's family will seek to
know the girl's family. After they are familiar with the whereabouts of the family,
the young man's family will send a message to the girl's family that they would want
to see the girl. Traditionally, the young woman's family will always agree to the
request.

The Visits
On a particular set date, the young man's family, together with some of the closest
relatives, will visit the girl's home. Traditionally the girl will be dressed up, and she
will be serving the guests Turkish coffee. While they take their coffee, the young
man and his family will leave without leaving a comment.

They will later discuss the girl and her family. If the young man agrees and declares
his intention of marrying the girl, family representatives will be sent. The family's
representatives usually will be some female relatives accompanied by an older
woman. As the prospective bride serves them coffee, the young man's
representatives will explain their motive. Usually, the girl's family will explain
everything to the girl and send their reply within a week.

The girl's family will check out the prospective groom and his family as well. If there
is positive feedback, the groom's parents will visit the girl's family accompanied by
their relatives and several vital elders.

The Gifts
Both families will come together and discuss which specific gifts each household
will give to the couple. The wedding date will also be set during these discussions.
After the talks are over, both of the families will have dessert, which mostly will be
Baklava.

The neighbors will also have a dessert to show them that the families have agreed.
Taking dessert signifies a wish that everything goes sweetly in marriage. Afterward,
an engagement ceremony will be held, and the young man will place an
engagement ring on the bride's finger. At this point, it is usually customary to give
the bride gifts such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry.

Wedding Day Eve

Before the wedding ceremony takes place, the household goods will be received for
the new house. When this takes place, you will probably hear clapping, singing, and
dancing.

The wedding day eve is also known as Henna night. During this time, the bride's
friends will gather to the girl's place and sing, dance, and play music. They will also
tint the bride's fingers and hands with henna. It is also customary that they sing sad
and separation songs towards the end of the night.

It is also customary that the bride cries, signifying the sorrow of leaving her family.
Meanwhile, the groom and his friends also form a party where they will sing, eat,
drink, and dance, which is sort of a bachelor's party. Most wedding ceremonies will
last only a day. However, with the different regions, some might take three to seven
days according to the wealth of the family.

The Nikah
Nikah is a marriage contract which is signed in a Nikah ceremony. In this ceremony,
the groom or his representatives will propose to the bride in front of at least two
witnesses. They will state clearly the details of the Meher during this ceremony. The
bride and groom will then show their free will by saying 'Kabul ediyorum,' which
means I accept in Turkish. Afterward, the couple and two male witnesses will sign
the contract, which makes the marriage legal according to the religious laws.

If the wedding were following Islamic traditions, the couple would share a sweet
fruit such as a date. If the ceremony requires that men and women be separated, a
male known as the Wali will represent the bride in the Nikah ceremony.

Blessings and Vows

Also, the Nikah officiant may add up religious ceremony, which includes reading
and reciting the first chapter of the Qur'an known as the Fatihah and reciting the
Durud. Most Muslim couples do not make vows to each other. Instead, they prefer
listening to speeches on the meaning of marriage, along with responsibilities to
Allah and their partners.

However, you will find that some brides and grooms will say some vows. There are
some common vows such as: ''I (bride's name) offer myself to you in marriage
following the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and
blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an
obedient and faithful wife."

Groom: "I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful
husband."

On the wedding day, the eldest brother to the girl will tie a red ribbon on her
sister's waist before she leaves her home to start a new life.

During the official ceremony the couple signs the marriage registration book in
front of the mayor or an official acting on behalf of the mayor. After this, the
couple will compete on who will step on their partner's first. This will determine
who will dominate the family.
After the celebrations are over and after the cutting of the cake, ribbons will be
tied around the bride and groom's neck. At this point, the guests will congratulate
them while they place money on the ribbons.

Turkish Henna Night

Henna is a small celebration that usually takes place a week or two before the
wedding. It was a tradition that was practiced in the past, and it’s still relevant in
the present. During the celebration, the groom would arrive with his friends in
preparation for the entry.

The tradition requires the groom and the bride to enter while there is a slow
traditional song playing. In front of them, there is a group of young single women
carrying candles. They are then required to walk around three times then sit. The
elder who is present in the group then commences the celebration by placing the
henna onto the grooms and bride’s palms. However, for the two to open their
closed fists, the in-laws are required to present a coin of gold.

For many brides, whether traditionally or today, it is a melancholic evening. It serves

as a preparation for the bride to leave her parents’ house and start a new life at her
husband’s home. The celebration is, therefore, both scary and sad for the bride as
well as the end of an era. During the henna night, there is a specific traditional song
that is sung to demonstrate the occasion. The song is called “Yüksek Tepelere”.

On the day of the celebration, the bride is allowed to dress in a gown of her choice,
then celebrate with her family and female friends. In the evening, she changes her
dress to a traditional attire called Kaftan.
What is Kaftan?
Kaftan is a term that represents a variety of dresses for henna. The dresses are
generally sewn without lining and then extend all the way to the foot. The liner is
replaced by the dress within the robe. Usually, this is an evening dress that the bride
wears for her henna night.

Traditionally, this attire was worn by Sultans of the Ottoman period. Today, with
their velvet thick fabric and gold-ornaments embroidered on them, they have
become one of the most popular henna night dresses. Traditionally the material
was made of red velvet. Today, they can be of many different colors and fabric
textures.

Kaftan Fabrics
Satin, and velvet ; these are the most popular fabrics used to make kaftans. If you
are doing your henna night during the winter, you may want to choose a velvet
robe. Velvet will keep you warmer. If you are doing it during the spring or summer,
however, velvet may not be the best option. You may want to consider using satin.
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