Thursday, 31st May 2007 (3246 views)

Rented gold jewellery is becoming increasingly apparent in Arab weddings due to rising inflation, it has been revealed.

Reuters reports that for couples who struggle to pay for shabka, or ritual gold jewellery gift, poorer couples are opting to rent the gold items they require for the wedding.

Traditionally, shabka includes a gold ring and is presented to the bride-to-be by the groom, although the bride's family can dictate a higher priced shabka depending on the financial situation, Reuters reports.

According to the news agency the word shabka derives from the verb to tie and literally represents a golden bond between the couple.

"Before, the idea of getting married without shabka was almost unthinkable, but with a weak economy and unaffordable gold prices, many parents sacrifice gold for their daughters' happiness," Ayman Wahba told Reuters.

Couples in Cairo are able to rent 21 carat gold jewellery from shops for the night of their wedding.

 

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