Carmella Shina
In the old days in Iraq it was customary to ask for the hand of a girl from her parents,
and then to discuss the dowry to be given by them. This is what happened with my
mother's sister, Aunt Muzli Hoory. Assent was given to the match, and the dowry
agreed upon. As was usual, the engagement, of equal import to the wedding itself, was
to be celebrated at the bride's home. Relatives and cooks were assembled to prepare
the evening affair, and all that it involved. The bride was bedecked in
costly jewels belonging to family members to adorn her and make her happy.
On the appointed day, the groom, his parents, and his guests arrived at the
home of the bride's parents for the engagement party. Just when it was time for the
ceremony, during the final preparations, the father of the groom approached the father
of the bride and tried to squeeze out of him an extra carpet in the dowry that had not
been agreed to previously. An argument broke out, which turned into a more serious
incident, and so the bride's father announced, “I'm very sorry – there isn't going to be
any engagement. I won't give my daughter to someone who haggles over her, as if in
the market place”. A general uproar followed, and one of the aunts of the bride
bundled her up in her bridal gown and took her off to the next room, declaring that the
bride was weighed down with expensive jewels and had to be watched over so she
wouldn't come to any harm.
In the midst of the hullabaloo the bride's father went over to an acquaintance
of his, and said he was willing to give his daughter in marriage, without any
preconditions, to his son Khdhuri Hoory that very evening. Having a sixth sense, the
groom's father realized that those two were on very friendly terms, and when the
groom's family and their guests were getting ready to leave they discovered that the
door of the bride's house was locked. They heard the bride's father announcing that
he had invited all the guests to attend the engagement of his daughter – to someone
else.
As the bride's family searched the house for Khdhuri Hoory, shouting out his
name, the latter, who had been in the house with the other guests all along, appeared.
They asked him, “Are you willing to marry Muzli?” He looked at his father for his
consent, which was given with a nod of the head. He said, “Only if the bride wants
me”.
Meanwhile, the aunt who was taking care of the bride gave her the message
that she was to be engaged to Khdhuri. She expressed no opinion and evinced no
opposition. So the bride walked out of her room and onto her life's course…
It was the custom to be engaged with the signet ring of the groom. But that
day Khdhuri had left his ring as collateral at a candy merchant's. This made no
difference, as his father was happy to hand over his own ring, together with his
blessing.
Muzli and Khdhuri lived in happiness and love throughout their lives, and
produced five successful children.
The family of Muzli and Khahuri Hoory