Rites of passage are present in all cultures and religions throughout history. In these rites of passage, gifts play an important role both in marking the transformation and in reinforcing the relationship between the giver and the receiver of the gift. One particularly important rite of passage that is present in most cultures is that of marriage. Each culture has their own traditions surrounding weddings and while in modern day America many different traditions from cultures around the world are practiced and considered very important in today’s society. In this paper we will examine the similarities and differences between Somali-American wedding traditions and those of European-Americans, along with the religious and cultural traditions they've discarded or lessened in practice to fit into the always changing American lifestyle.
In a traditional Somali-American wedding, religion plays a huge role from the very beginning of the relationship, when a man courts the woman all the way to the final stage of tying of the knot. Since 99% of Somalis are sunni-muslims, the religion that governs this marriage process is Islam. When a man is interested in marrying a woman he must first consult with his elders, then, the man must next talk to the woman’s parents and elders. The woman’s elders then make a decision based upon how well they know the man’s elders, and the if they find the man and his family to be a suitable match. How fit a man is, is not only determined by his actions but also those of his family and their reputations.Things that are accounted for are; how well they are known in the religious community, how often they are seen in the mosque, and whether the other siblings that are married have good reputations. At this point once both families have giving their blessings for the engagement the marriage precedes fairly quickly in about a months time. And in