The Red Ribbon's True Meaning: A Turkish Wedding Tradition

In Turkish weddings, a red ribbon tied around the bride's waist symbolises her virginity and purity. It is an ancient tradition, probably originating from Shamanic rituals, and is rarely performed by modern couples nowadays, as some see it as likening the bride to a gift box for the groom to 'open'.

Symbolism of the red ribbon

The red ribbon is a traditional part of Turkish weddings, with a variety of symbolic meanings. Firstly, it is a symbol of the bride's virginity and, by extension, her purity. In ancient times, a red ribbon tied around the bride's waist was an indicator of her maidenhood, and its absence would often cause neighbourhood gossip. In modern times, the bride can choose whether to wear the ribbon or not, but it remains a symbol of purity and is often tied around her waist by the eldest brother of the bride or the mother of the bride.

The colour red is also considered lucky in Asian weddings, and the ribbon is also a symbol of good fortune for the couple. After the wedding, guests will pin gold coins or money to the red ribbon tied to the bride, wishing the couple luck and a prosperous future together. The red ribbon is also a practical way to give gifts of money to the newlyweds, and this custom is also performed at the end of the wedding ceremony, with red ribbons placed around the couple's necks.

Henna night

On the night before the ritual, the groom's mother mixes the henna and covers it with a ceremonial embroidered cloth, leaving it overnight for the dye to set. The next evening, the groom and his family bring the bowl to the bride's home, where she awaits their arrival. The bride's mother, sisters, and close female friends help her prepare, and they fill the home with music, dried fruit, and juice for refreshments.

The henna night rituals begin with the guests darkening the room and sinking lit candles into the henna paste. The glowing paste is then presented to the bride with song. The groom's female family members then perform a mock struggle with the bride, attempting to pry open her closed fist. Eventually, she surrenders, and they place a coin in her hand, symbolizing her acceptance of the groom and her new role as a wife. The groom's family then applies henna to the bride's hands and feet, and her hands are wrapped in lamb's wool and satin mitts. The guests sing lullabies to the bride until she falls asleep.

After the henna rituals, the bride and her guests return to the dance floor to celebrate with folk dances, such as "halay" and "horon". The night ends with gifts for each guest, such as henna-inspired cookies, hair accessories, candles, or sweets.

The tradition of Henna Night has evolved since the Ottoman period, but the main goal of celebration remains unchanged. It is a special night for the bride and her loved ones to create lasting memories before she embarks on her new life as a wife.

Turkish wedding attire

Turkish weddings are a vibrant affair, with a blend of modern and traditional practices. The attire is no different, with a mix of Western and local styles.

Bride

The bride is usually dressed in white, cream, silver, navy blue, or red. In recent years, white dresses have become the norm, and it is often the first fashionable outfit young women are allowed to wear. The bride may also wear a red veil or a red ribbon tied around her waist, symbolising purity, luck, and wealth. Before the wedding, the bride's female friends and relatives will take part in the Henna Night or Kına Gecesi, where they will apply henna to the bride's palm and play traditional songs. The bride will wear a gown of her choice, usually red, and later change into a traditional outfit called a bindalli.

Groom

The groom usually wears a formal black suit and a white shirt. On some occasions, he may wear traditional Turkish clothes with a local hat.

Guests

For guests, it is important to wear something bright, stylish, and formal. Women typically wear high heels, floor-length gowns, and jewellery. Men usually wear suits. It is also important to wear comfortable shoes, as there will be a lot of standing and dancing. It is considered disrespectful to wear white as a female guest.

Wedding gifts

In Turkish weddings, the bride's family and the groom's family come together to share a dessert, usually baklava, before the wedding. This is distributed to neighbours and friends to announce the wedding. Eating sweets together symbolises that both families wish for the marriage to be sweet.

On the wedding day, the bride is adorned with a red ribbon tied around her waist by her eldest brother or mother. This signifies her purity and is a lucky symbol. After the wedding, women pin gold coins or place gold bangles on the bride's wrists and red ribbon to wish the couple good fortune.

Gold is a traditional wedding gift in Turkish culture, with guests gifting gold coins or jewellery to the couple. The value of the gift depends on how close the guest is to the couple. It is also common to give monetary gifts, which are placed in the bride's basket or purse.

The car convoy

In recent years, Turkish wedding convoys have been a source of tension in some European cities due to noise pollution, dangerous driving, and disruption to traffic. In some cases, drivers have been fined and had their cars seized for breaking traffic rules.

Frequently asked questions