Article by: Mayar Mohamed Mohamed Eid
ID: 20060812
Neama Ismael is a long-time married wife with a traditional background, she comes from a rural area in Mansoura where they hold traditions close to their hearts and her family long applied the pot of agreement, she even applied it with her three daughters so she knows all about it.
The Interview:
Q1- Can you tell me about yourself
Neama Ismail from El-Bosrat (Dakahlia governorate) studied and lived her life in Mansoura until she married a man from El-Mansoura and they both went to live in Alexandria governorate
Q2- What is the agreement pot حلة الأتفاق
It’s an agreement between the bride’s and groom’s parents, for the first time the bride and groom eat together in their new house
Q3- Why is it called the suit of agreement?
Because when they eat together they agree with each other, so it’s kind of motivating when you eat a suit of agreement you agree with each other and live happily ever after
Q4-When they send it/ do they send it after or before marriage?
They get it on the wedding day after they got home (they eat it when they get back for dinner)
Q5-When did it start?
It started earlier before I was born, I’m a 70-year-old woman, and it’s still happening till now even in Alexandria
Q6-When you got married did this happen to you?
Yes, my wedding was in Mansoura and right after it we traveled to Alexandria and they sent the food with us there
Q7-Did you do it with your daughters?
Yes sure I did it with my 3 daughters
Q8- What did you send to them?
Stuffed pigeons, duck, and Bachmel pasta
Q9- Do you think that it’s an important tradition to continue or would you like your daughter to do it for your granddaughter?
– Yes, of course, I think it’s a great tradition and if she doesn’t do it I’ll do it myself for my granddaughter.
Q10- Do you believe it’s important in terms of showing closeness from the bride’s family towards the husband?
– I think it shows the bride’s family’s good nature.
Q11- Is it done by the bride’s mother only or the husband as well?
– Only the bride’s mom.
Q12- Why do you think it’s just restricted to the bride’s family?
– It’s the way the tradition works, it’s also common for the bride’s family to make them food for a whole two weeks for the bride’s comfort.
Q13-Why is it not required from the husband’s family side as well?
– Actually the bride’s family are also required to send food to the husband’s family as well as the bride.
Q14- Would you consider it as a gift token from the bride’s family to the husband’s side?
– Yes exactly.
Q15- After a long marriage, do you still think it would’ve affected your marriage if it wasn’t done?
– No of course, as long as your relationship is concrete.
Q16- Where do you think religion would stand on this subject?
– I’m not familiar with this.
Q17- What other traditions did you witness with weddings?
-Things as the day after wedding, we also cook for them for two weeks, things as seboo’ after 7 days from the wedding, where the two families meet and share biscuits and other sweets.
Q18- Is it restricted to certain foods?
– No it’s all about preferences and what you can afford, however there are some preferred food such as pigeons.
Q19- My questions are mostly done, do you have any comments you’d like to express?
– No thank you, dear.
A bride celebrations can’t complete without her mother’s agreement pot-Credits: Yom El Sabea
Agreement pot is the base of everything- Credits: Chef Amin
Behinders 
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