My sister Sahra got engaged on December 26, 2008. It was an amazing engagement party and it was at a hotel in Auburn. I will never forget the night of my sister’s engagement party.

The engagement day all started in the morning when my mom and other women were cooking breakfast for the groom and other men. The breakfast place was located near our house. Before the groom and the other men had their breakfast, a man who is considered to be a leader of the Islamic religion, a sheik, read the Quran and said prayers for the groom and the bride. After that, my uncle and father gave their permission for the groom to marry the bride, who is my sister. Then the sheik held the groom’s hand and asked him if he takes the bride to be his wife, and the groom said yes. After that, the sheik shook the groom’s hand and the guys had breakfast.

While the engagement party was going on, my sister, who is the bride, my other sister, and I were getting our hair done by a Somali lady who lives in Lewiston. Getting our hair done was a fun experience. I thought that the Somali lady did my sister’s hair very nicely. I also thought that she did my hair and my other sister’s hair very nicely. After we got our hair done, we went to my aunt’s house to get dressed up. Our cousins were also dressing up. My sister was planning to change her outfit twice during the engagement. My two sisters and I were wearing traditional Somali outfits that came from Dubai. The bride was planning to come in the hotel wearing a traditional dress that was green. I thought she looked beautiful and her dress matched her shoes. Also, she was wearing nice gold earrings, a necklace, bracelets, and a ring. During the engagement party, my sister changed into a beautiful purple American dress and she wore white jewelry to go with the dress. There was a singer who came from Canada all the way to Maine to sing songs for my sister’s engagement party. The night ended with everybody singing and dancing.

My sister’s engagement party was a night that will be remembered. I think everyone enjoyed the engagement party and had a wonderful time. Everyone left with smiles on their faces.