Courting and wedding rituals in America and Afghanistan

Both countries use symbolic traditions in their beliefs of courting and weddings. The fact that both Afghan women and North American wear a white dress at the wedding proves that the countries believe in a certain set of values. The color white overall is a sign of purity. For the signing of the documents and the after party of the wedding, Soraya wears a green dress, “we were seated around table, Soraya and I dressed in green-the color of Islam, but also the color of spring and new beginnings”(Hosseini 179). A green dress would show loyalty towards Afghanistan.
North Americans believe it is bad luck to let the bride and groom see each other the night and day before until the wedding. The groom and bride in Afghan traditions are not to be left alone at all before the wedding, “Soraya and I never went out alone together while preparations for the proceeded-since we weren’t married yet, hadn’t even had a Shirini-khori, it was considered improper”(Hosseini 178).
Afghans and North Americans both have the marrying couple in the center of attention, “A procession of uncles, aunts, and cousins followed as we made our way through the hall, parting a sea of applauding guests, blinking at flashing camaras”(Hosseini 179). Most of the time they are up on a stage while saying their vows, “I remember sitting on the sofa, set on the stage like a throne, Soraya’s hand in mine, as three hundred or so faces looked on”(Hosseini 180).

The similarities between two different cultures are mostly found in the beliefs of the people and their traditional symbols.