April 24, 2024
Unique date sparks wedding boom in Erbil
ERBIL — A surge in weddings is taking place in Erbil on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, due to the numerical uniqueness of the day’s date. The repetition of the number four throughout the date has captured the attention of many local residents, turning it into a highly sought-after occasion for exchanging vows.
Goran Khidr, owner of Vanas Mode, a local wedding business, has witnessed the phenomenon firsthand. “We’ve had beautiful dates before, but none like this one,” Khidr told 964media. His shop has prepared more than 200 wedding gowns in recent months to meet the unusual demand, fueled in part by the date’s appealing numerical symmetry.
According to Khidr, some couples have been planning their weddings for a while to secure a spot on this special day, a trend not observed in the 1990s. “People are giving more importance to these unique dates now, unlike back in 1996, 1997, and 1998,” he said, highlighting a shift in cultural preferences.
Traditionally, Kurdish weddings are two-part affairs. The engagement ceremony features brides in traditional attire, while the final “Buk-Gwastnawa” ceremony sees brides adorned in special white dresses typically purchased or rented for the occasion.
Khidr also noted that the timing of Ramadan this year, earlier than usual, played a role in the wedding surge.
Many couples who would have otherwise held their ceremonies on dates that fell during the holy month, a time for fasting and religious observance, opted to reschedule for today. Ramadan typically discourages celebratory events like weddings due to the emphasis on daytime fasting.