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Candles have been part of Middle Eastern rituals for maybe a thousand years or more. In Egypt, they feature prominently in the 'Zeffa al-arusah' (bridal procession). A number of candles are attached to a headpiece called a shamadan (or chamadan or candelabrum). The custom is that at least one shamadan dancer leads the bridal party. In years gone by, the tradition was that an outdoor procession accompanied the bridal couple to their new home. The shamadan -bearing dancer would light the way through the dark streets, and the candelabrum announced that a wedding had taken place.
As with many other aspects of oriental dance, there is a lot of speculation as to the origin of the Egyptian Raks Shamadan (meaning dance with shamadan ).
Today, Raks Shamadan is performed in restaurants in Egypt and throughout the world.
It is still considered good luck for a couple to have an oriental dancer perform at their wedding. I imagine it is even better luck for the couple to have the dancer perform Raks Shamadan!
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