(Wedding Taraweed)
Al Taraweed is one of the most beautiful folk songs rich with inherited poems and melodies. They are performed by both men and women except for some differences in content between the two sexes. The hymns, that are accompanied with ululations, strongly express feelings of joy and happiness during festive occasions in the spacious houses and yards of Jordanian people. They convert their yards and roofs into spontaneous stages for dance and singing. This is to declare their great joy and to honor guests who come to join their joyful event and congratulate them.
The words of the Taraweed are simple, flexible and they express meaning of the event in a way that has social-political connotations. Consequently, they have functional dimensions. They are also characterized with short melodic sentences. They have simple repeated rhymes suitable for the simple and public words of the Taraweed.
Al Taraweed are two types: The Taraweed of the bride these are usually performed by the friends of the bride in the evening party before the Wedding or the Henna party. The songs will be sung interchanging between two groups (Rawadat). These songs consist of poetic lines praising the beauty of the bride, her prestigious family and tribe. Taraweed of the bride groom where the songs sung by the friends of the groom and especially during the process of dying with henna. The only difference between the two types of Taraweed is that this one express masculine personality traits. Usually, the men’s Taraweed are sung by two rows of men without any musical instruments.

Women singing the taraweed at the Henna Night.

 

Reference:
- https://ich.gov.jo/app2
- Archives of the Heritage Directorate / Ministry of Culture
- Intangible Cultural Heritage in Al-Balqa Governorate - Ministry of Culture 2017
- Intangible Cultural Heritage in Al-karak Governorate - Ministry of Culture 2017
- Intangible Cultural Heritage in Al- Zarqa Governorate - Ministry of Culture 2017