The soup that gathers the tribe and kicks off the wedding

Or how the wedding day begins in Romani culture

Pepi’s sister Dana (with the jacket and hair-band) preparing soup for the entire tribe with help from a relative

In the sphere of “first world problems,” few things are more daunting and stressful than the morning of a wedding day. Even outside of the “first world” bubble, like for our Roma tribe (which has been living in extreme poverty for generations,) weddings always entail a million moving pieces that have to be carefully choreographed. Hair and makeup, venue, camera and photography, live music, dozens upon dozens of customs and rituals, and countless planned and unforeseen challenges.

On the morning of a Romani wedding day, however, all this has to wait.

Until everyone eats soup.

The reception before the wedding

At around 8:00 in the morning, under the open sky, a fire is lit. A huge metal pot is placed upon it. An elderly woman from the tribe begins to prepare a rich, delicious soup meant to feed everyone.

Around her, the air is full of life. Relatives bring piles of ingredients to …