The betrothal ceremony in the Syrian Orthodox (Aramaic) Christian community takes place a year or two before the wedding. The engaged couple announce their intention to enter into the covenant of marriage by means of three to five loaves of bread (klicha), which their respective uncles bring to the community's priest for his blessing. The loaves are then distributed to guests and the betrothed couple exchange rings.
Now sanctified by the priest, these richly spiced loaves are symbolic of abundance and add a religious dimension to what is otherwise not considered to be a holy rite of the Church. |
