In Lebanese culture, as well as that of arab culture,[1] the zaffa (Arabic: زفـّـة / ALA-LC: zaffah), or wedding march, is a musical procession of bendir drums, bagpipes, horns, belly dancers and men carrying flaming swords. This is an ancient arab tradition that predates Islam. When the procession reaches its destination, usually the house of the bridegroom, there is usually a party, more loud noises, and then dinner.
The Zaffa is well-documented in many Egyptian movies ever since its start, 100+ years ago.
References
- ^ On the Zaffa and the poetic verse used in Muslim weddings in Yemen, see Hanan Maloom, "La Zaffah: Noces et Poesie Orale Feminine à Ṣan‛ā’". In: Ayyelet Oettinger & Danny Bar-Maoz (eds.), Mittuv Yosef: Yosef Tobi Jubilee Volume, vol. 2: The Jews of Yemen: History and Culture, pp. clxiii–cxc. Haifa