Wedding

The previous entry on marriage was based on what he and Thlagiso told me about this custom and I used Tom’ pictures from several weddings he has attended. Then, yesterday, I got to see it all first hand. In the next ward over was the biggest wedding anyone can recall with the biggest tent. We counted over 400 people in it. There were well over 200 cars and trucks during the course of the day. You can tell by the brick wall around the yard that these are well off folk.

We knew the preparations had begun when, around 7AM, we heard the gunshots signalling the killing of the animals. When we wandered over we saw that 4 cows and 2 sheep (hanging from a tree) had been slaughtered on the ground in a yard adgoining the yard with the wedding tent. Within 2 hours all the meat had been cut up, the livers set aside and the intestines stripped for the making of a tradtional soup. The skins that were left were scraped and folded up to be sold later for making into the shoes, handbags and jackets we all wear so proudly.

Already the first part of the meat was cooking in a pot to give to the workers who were diligently preparing the rest of the meat. I counted 45 men in the yard where this was taking place. You could see that the older men were instructing younger ones. This is how this tradition has been passed on for generations. At least a dozen cooking pots were already prepeared to receive various portions.

We left knowing that the actual wedding meal would not be served until after 1PM. Later Thagiso returned with a bowl of meat for us to taste. This was the “men’s meat” that is prepared for the older men of the ward to consume while they sit and discuss local affairs. I asked what was in it and was told it was a mixture of meats. It was quite tasty.

When I returned at 2:30 PM the wedding dinner was under way. A MC was directing the folks in the tent about how to line up for food. An enormous speaker system provided music to the whole neighbourhood. There was a bottle of red wine on each table. Outside, groups of local people were sitting in circles enjoying food.

By 5PM speeches were being given and empty bottles of “champagne” indicated that suitable toasts had been made. When we went back at 8 PM the tent was dark but outside the courtyard groups of people were still eating and drinking to music from their vehicles.

The next morning when I went by the ladies were performing that ritual seen the world over, The Opening Of The Gifts.