[Vocabulary] matchmaking or marriage meeting

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atabitaraf

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You know it's a really hard question to make a synonym for any other language or culture's custom.

Before getting married our traditional custom is like this:
The boy's family (parents) go to the girl's home and ask them and eat sweets and drink tea from the girl's hand.
This ceremony is called 'KHASTEGARI' in our language but I think there may not be a synonym for that in English but some times you have to refer to them with some words.
I think the words 'the matchmaking meeting' or 'the matchmaking ceremony' are my best options. What do you say?

Thanks,
ata
 

bhaisahab

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You know it's a really hard question to make a synonym for any other language or culture's custom.

Before getting married our traditional custom is like this:
The boy's family (parents) go to the girl's home and ask them and eat sweets and drink tea from the girl's hand.
This ceremony is called 'KHASTEGARI' in our language but I think there may not be a synonym for that in English but some times you have to refer to them with some words.
I think the words 'the matchmaking meeting' or 'the matchmaking ceremony' are my best options. What do you say?

Thanks,
ata

"The matchmaking ceremony" sounds good.
 

atabitaraf

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Thank you for your fast answer.
When it is the first time in my writing to refer to the term, should I say 'The matchmaking ceremony' or 'matchmaking ceremony' ?
example:
Mohammadis went to the matchmaking ceremony.
 

bhaisahab

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Thank you for your fast answer.
When it is the first time in my writing to refer to the term, should I say 'The matchmaking ceremony' or 'matchmaking ceremony' ?
example:
Mohammadis went to the matchmaking ceremony.

Use "the".
 

emsr2d2

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Thank you for your fast answer.
When it is the first time in my writing to refer to the term, should I say 'The matchmaking ceremony' or 'matchmaking ceremony' ?
example:
Mohammadis went to the matchmaking ceremony.

Is "Mohammadi" the surname/family name of the people involved? If so, you would say "The Mohammadis went to the matchmaking ceremony [of their daughter and XXXXX]"
 

atabitaraf

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Is "Mohammadi" the surname/family name of the people involved? If so, you would say "The Mohammadis went to the matchmaking ceremony [of their son and XXXXX]"
Does the girl's family go to such ceremony in the UK?
 

emsr2d2

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We (by "we", I mean white, Anglo-Saxon British people) don't have such ceremonies so that's difficult to answer. After a couple decide to get married, there is frequently an engagement party but it's organised by the couple and they invite all their friends and family. It's not a ceremony though, nor is there any tradition involved. It's just a big party where everyone gives the couple a congratulatory card or present and gets very drunk!

Just to clarify, when I said "we", I was really only able to refer to people of my own ethnicity. I'm guessing from the name of the ceremony and the OP's user information that this is perhaps a Muslim traditional ceremony. I can't speak for what Muslim families in the UK do.
 

moonlike

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hi
I think you can also use the term " marriage proposal ceremony".
 
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