I grew up in Morocco fascinated by the beauty and textures of Moroccan wedding blankets. Even as a child, I knew they were not ordinary blankets. The precision of the handwork was amazing. The Moroccan wedding blanket also called the Handira blanket or the Handira throw is a favorite traditional Moroccan item.
Moroccan wedding blankets are traditionally worn by Moroccan Berber brides. The Berbers, also called the Amazigh, or Imazighen, are the descendants of the pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa. Moroccan Berber blankets are an essential item in a bride’s outfit.
The Tradition Behind the Handira
Each Berber throw is hand-woven and hand-decorated by the bride’s female circle prior to the wedding. Many Berber mothers start weaving and decorating the Handira when their daughters are still young. Women who participate in this process are from the bride’s family, but also women believed to bring baraka, the Moroccan word for good luck and prosperity. This weaving and decorating ritual is a well-preserved tradition, passed from mother to daughter. The mirrored sequins, called mouzoun in Berber, are believed to ward off the evil eye and protect the future wife and her husband from bad energy.
On her wedding day, the bride wears her wedding blanket atop her head for the journey to her new home, spiritually empowered by other women’s wisdom sharing. An authentic Berber Wedding Blanket, a handira, is traditionally made by the wife to be and her female family members to show the grooms family that she has weaving skills. The blanket is then used throughout the wedding ceremony and ultimately is used as the blanket the couple sleeps under after their first night of being husband and wife.
The Allure of Authentic Handira Blankets
A few years ago, these wedding blankets were unknown outside Morocco. Authentic wedding blankets are very durable and can be passed down through generations. Of wool, they are hand-woven and hand-decorated.
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Because this blanket is so loved worldwide, there is more and more imitation being seen on the market. You can spot imitation by a few indicators. The price should also be a concern. If your Handira wedding blanket is way too cheap, it’s probably not authentic.
The Story Of The Moroccan Wedding Blanket - Handira
Here's a table to help you differentiate between authentic and imitation Handira blankets:
| Feature | Authentic Handira | Imitation Handira |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Wool | Synthetic materials |
| Handwork | Hand-woven and hand-decorated | Machine-made |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Durability | Very durable | Less durable |
Personal Experiences with Handira Blankets
I purchased a wedding blanket for my sister as a wedding gift and she loved it! She did not know about it so I sent her your article. She is now using it in her master bedroom as a decoration piece and she loves the symbolism behind it. I own a handira and I never knew about all the tradition behind it. My mother in law gifted me a Moroccan wedding blanket after her trip to Morocco. She told me its a special piece and I googled it to learn more.
For years before I ever traveled to Morocco, I knew I wanted a Moroccan Berber Wedding Blanket. When we arrived at our hotel in Marrakech, our suite had a similar blanket hanging on the wall and it was gorgeous. Immediately, I told my husband that a Berber Wedding blanket was the only souvenir I wanted to bring home with us.
We walked into a big shop in the souk in Marrakech that had a lot of handira’s hanging on the walls. We asked the seller if they had any others not hanging up and that is when the ceremony began. He described in pretty good English the difference with each one, how the wool was and whether or not it was an authentic (as in actually used in a wedding ceremony) blanket or just made to sell. We noticed one wool blanket that still had the strings on the side; the strings would have been used to tie around the wife as the cape.
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There are many designs, but the ivory and white striped with simple sequin detailing spoke to me the most. We picked two that we liked and starting haggling. We asked how much. His first response was 3200 dirham, about 380 dollars.
One tip that I’d suggest if you have the time: Go to the shop about an hour before or two closing. My husband was quick, saying our last offer was 1200. The seller didn’t want to budge. He said no, no, no. So, again, we got up, thanked him for his time and started walking away. Sold!
We returned home and I proudly displayed our blanket over a chair in our living room. It’s gorgeous and a total interior design statement. While it might just look like a blanket to some people, every time I walk by it I’m reminded of our trip to Morocco and of our wedding, two special moments in my life that always make me smile.
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