Traditionally celebrated on the eve before the wedding day, Noche de Novia (Night of the Bride) is a Sephardic Moroccan ceremony in which the bride dresses in an elaborate gown and head dress. The gown pictured here has been worn by consecutive generations of Benhaim women and dozens of relatives. It is reflective of the central role this tradition plays in Jewish weddings and how culture is passed down from one generation to the next. Noche de Novia for Mercedes Benhaim (centre) and Mercedes’ sister-in-laws to be Esther Osiel (left) and Perla Osiel (right), Toronto, Dec. 1960.

Osiel Family Collection, Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, accession 2018-6-12.