Can you explain Afghan culture regarding dating and marriage?
In Afghan culture, marriage is considered to be an obligation. Divorce is a rare occurrence and when it happens there is stigma attached to it. Polygamy (having more than one wife) is allowable under law but rarely practiced, unless a man feels obligated to marry the widow of his deceased brother. People tend to marry within their own kin (i.e. cousins). The first contacts are usually made by women in order to avoid a public refusal. Then the two families negotiate on the financial aspects of the marriage (such as the dowry and bride price). Following is the official engagement, where female relatives of the groom bring gifts to the bride and people eat lots of sweets. The wedding itself is a lavish three-day affair paid for by the groom’s family. The marriage contract is signed and the bride is brought with pomp to the groom’s house.
