The eve

The eve of a wedding often has a ceremony of its own. In many cultures it is the women's night, with henna, singing and dancing. Elsewhere it is the rehearsal dinner, or the last night the bride sleeps in her parents' house. It is a time for emotion and for fun.

Henna and haldi nights

The henna night is celebrated across North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. In Morocco it is the lilat el henna, in Turkey the kina gecesi, with a song sung as the bride weeps, in India and Pakistan the mehndi and the sangeet, with songs and dances prepared by the families. In Jewish Yemenite and Moroccan traditions the henna ceremony is a major celebration. Hindu families apply haldi to both bride and groom the morning or day before.

Rehearsal and farewell

In the United States and Britain the rehearsal dinner follows the walk-through of the ceremony. In Germany the Polterabend sees friends break porcelain. In Turkish and Persian households the bride's family holds a farewell, and in China a hair-combing ritual on the eve, called shangtou, is performed by a lucky woman. In Jewish traditions bride and groom may fast and avoid seeing each other before the ceremony.

What is changing

The eve can now be larger than the ceremony itself. Sangeet nights have crossed over into Western weddings, and henna parties are held for guests of all backgrounds. At the same time many couples simplify, keeping a quiet family dinner.