As you know, no marriage is alike. Indeed, there are a lot of wedding traditions in the world. And today we decided to talk about Sofreh Aghd,
the table ritual from Iran. If you want to plan your wedding in France, it is possible to organize the Sofreh Aghd.
The Sofreh Aghd is the engagement table. This Persian tradition has a very strong symbolic resonance for the Iranians. Indeed, this table is composed of various elements to bring good luck for the future life of the bride and groom. These elements each have a meaning, a particular symbolism. This table faces the sun so that the bride and groom are in the light.
During the Sofreh Aghd ceremony, men and women are separated in two different rooms. Men and women meet when signing the marriage contract which governs the bride’s dowry and the terms of the contract. When the contract is made, the bride sits next to her husband facing the Sofreh Aghd which is adorned with symbolic objects. When the “Aghed”, the person in charge of formalizing the marriage reads the marriage contract and the bride responds to the request, the bridegroom’s mother gives her a “zir lafzi” gift. This gift is given before the bride says ‘I do’ to her future husband.
The Sofreh Aghd is composed of different items and each have a particular symbolism. We can find on the Sofreh Aghd a mirror “Ayaneh” in Persian, which is placed in the middle of the table. During the wedding ceremony, the bride joins her husband, who is already in front of the Sofreh Aghd, with a veil covering his face so that their eyes do not meet. During the wedding, the Ayaneh is positioned in front of the future bride and groom. When the bride removes the veil, the first thing her husband sees in the Ayaneh is his wife. This mirror reflects their love on themselves, and it allows this love to be exhibited to the guests. It is the symbol of the truth of purity and light. When the marriage ends, the Ayaneh is brought back to the home of the bride and groom. It belongs to them forever.
There are also two candelabras which are arranged on either side of the mirror. These candelabras represent the energy and clarity within the couple. The fire here has a purifying aspect.
During the Sofreh Aghd ceremony we can smell the rose, indeed the rose water “Golab” is sprinkled to perfume the atmosphere. A vial of rose water is also present on the table.
The table is adorned with two flower arrangements which are also arranged symmetrically on either side of the mirror. The flowers in these arrangements must represent the couple. The choice of flowers is very important because depending on their species there is a meaning. Red roses are the symbol of passionate love or even white roses are the symbol of purity…
A sacred Book (the Torah, the Bible or the Koran) is placed in front of the bride and groom. The presence of the sacred book is the symbol of faith. An atheistic couple can place a book of poems in place of the sacred book.
To purify and reject the evil eye and bad energies a seven-color espand tray is positioned on the table. This espand tray is an essential part of the ceremony. It promotes the vitality and health of the couple. The espand when in contact with hot coal emits smoke and crackles. The more smoke there is and the stronger its crackling, the more negative waves are neutralized.
A prayer rug, the “Termeh“, which is transmitted down from generation to generation or is offered by the family is positioned at the center of the Sofreh Aghd. The mirror, the candelabra and the sacred book are placed on it. The rug recalls the importance of praying to God.
The “Nabaat” is a sugar cone. There are two Nabaat on the table. They symbolize the wish for gentleness for the future life of the bride and groom. These sugar cones made from hardened sugar are used during the ceremony. These sugar cones are gently ground together on a silk scarf stretched over the heads of the bride and groom by the bridesmaids, providing showers of softness. The sugar falls on the stole.
Pastries, sweets as well as bread cheese green herbs “Naan-o-Paneer-o-Sabzi” are offered to guests as a reminder of how sweet life is.
We also find eggs, almonds, nuts on the Sofreh Aghd. They symbolize fertility.
The Blessed Bread, “Mobarak Baad”, on which is written “Congratulations”. This bread is the symbol of abundance and prosperity. It is shared with the guests at the end of the ceremony.
There is also a needle with seven colors of thread. The whole represents the union between two families and also of the sewn-up mouth of the mother-in-law who will not be able to utter unpleasant words against her daughter-in-law.
Fruits are arranged on the Sofreh Aghd. We can put pomegranates or apples. They symbolize health and prosperity.
We can find Gold Coins “Talla Sekkeh” coins that represent wealth, these coins are sewn into a pocket that must remain closed for life.
There is also a glass of honey “Asal“. It wish of sweetness for the bride and groom. During the ceremony, the bride and groom should dip their little finger in the glass of honey.
7 Spices are arranged on the Sofreh Aghd, there is salt, frankincense, wild rice, nigella Seeds, angelica, poppy seeds, and tea. These are seven spices that allow you to purify yourself, and they reject the evil eye and bad energies. These seven spices promotes vitality and health.
This wedding ceremony can totally be organized in France. If you want to organize your wedding in France, this is not a problem! If you want, you can have an outdoor wedding or the opposite in an exceptional building like in famous french hotel like The Meurice Hotel, or in the Intercontinental Hotel. As for the symbolic items of the Sofreh Aghd, they are easy to find in France. We have Persian grocery stores and caterers in Paris and in several regions of France. These grocery stores offer products straight from Iran. We can find sweets, pastries (Baklava, Nokhodchi, or even Ghottab), nuts… These grocery stores also offer fruits such as apples, or pomegranates. Everything to make your Sofreh Aghd perfect. For the decoration is easy to find too!
Planning a wedding is not easy. Indeed, you have to be prepared, to be organized, patient, zen, you have to think of everything to make sure that the big day will be perfect!
To make all your wishes come true, contact a wedding planner in France. He will take care of organizing your wedding in France. He will meet your expectations by organizing the wedding of your dreams! The wedding planner will take care of everything. He will take care of privatizing the places, reserving the hotels, contacting the best providers so that your wedding will be the most beautiful. He will accompany you in every step of the conception of the wedding of your dreams.
If you dreamed of having your Sofreh Aghd in a French castle, for example, this is totally possible. France has around 45,000 castles. It is possible to organize your Sofreh Aghd in the Château de Chantilly for example, a castle which is located near Paris. For this, you just need to contact a wedding planner in France, he can take care of privatizing a castle for a few hours. If you want to organize your wedding in the city of love it is possible. You may also be interested in having your wedding in another region of France, with a completely different setting than that of Paris. This is also possible. You can organize your wedding in Provence, at the French Riveira, etc. If this is your wish, do not wait any longer and contact a wedding planner in France, he will make your biggest dream come true!
If the article helps you, do not hesitate to contact a wedding in France CTH EVENTS Paris.
MADE WITH LOVE IN PARIS All rights reserved ©
Destination Wedding planner in France
