Palestinian Weddings: Inventing Palestine in New Jersey

As the political situation of the Palestinians has changed, so too have the customs and practices of Palestinians in the Diaspora. Using Eric Hobsbawm’s concept of “invented tradition” as a point of departure, this article explores the origins, functions, and implications of some of the elements—including dance, song, and costume—of Palestinian-American wedding celebrations in the New York/New Jersey/ Pennsylvania area, which since the first intifada have evolved into occasions for celebrating nationalist as well as communal identity.

RANDA SERHAN is a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at Columbia University.