Wedding traditions of Algiers
The white city on the bay, where the bride wears the karakou, a gold-embroidered velvet jacket.
Algiers has a tradition of the karakou, a jacket and trousers of velvet embroidered with gold thread, and the chedda of Tlemcen. Weddings are held with a henna night, the hna, and a dance. Families gather in large halls and bring songs known as the chaabi, the folk music of Algiers.
A wedding here
The bride is bathed, hennaed and dressed in layers of embroidered garments. Women sing and the groom's family carries gifts on trays. Cakes such as baklawa, makroud and ghribia are shared.
Law and change
The Family Code was amended in 2005; the minimum age is 19 for both, and polygamy is allowed up to four wives with a judge's consent and the wife's notice. Registration is required.
Wedding customs of Algiers
Also part of it, and being written: Chaabi (The folk music.), Makroud (The sweet.).
A wedding trail idea for Algiers
- Casbah of Algiers The old city.
- Notre-Dame d'Afrique A basilica above the bay.
- Jardin d'Essai du Hamma A botanical garden used for photographs.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Karakou: Bachounda, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Henna night: Izzah Zainab, CC BY 2.0, source