expense to make their eldest daughter’s wedding incredibly good fun and memorable. Here is Annie’s account of customs followed and traditions faithfully observed over the October weekend that surely qualifies as Penang’s Wedding Of Te Year, simply because literally anyone who was anyone living in this island paradise (old & nouveau rich alike) showed up to join in the festivities. Friends from out of town also came. “It all started with the groom side going to see the geomancer to choose a suitable date for the wedding. Te whole marriage thing for Hokkiens starts with the engagement rituals where exchange of gifts is the highlight.
D First…
the “gor dai lai” ceremony Te groom side brought a dowry of gifts that included brandy, mushrooms, red dates, dry scallops, biscuits, coconuts, red buns (ang koo), red cloth for the front door and Dragon/Phoenix wedding candles. Te piece de resistance was however
two kinds of angpow (red packets stuffed with money). Te milk angpow is for the bride’s parents for their daughter and the “ping kam” angpow is for the bride. “Of course we returned the money, otherwise it would appear as if we are “selling our daughter!” says Annie with a twinkle in her eye.
Second…
the bride’s reciprocal gifts Te bride’s side accepted the gifts, and in return gave an angpow for the groom to buy a new pair of shoes, a house (sounded rather lopsided to me ... a house??? for the groom from the bride? a dowry or what?) Datin Annie explained this is to help them get started. Also two large huat kuih, literally translated as “growth cakes”, drinks, fruits and yam, all these something of an anti-climax after the gift of the house! Ten days later, the marital room gets decorated and the most important item is the bride’s potty (tam pooi) filled with oranges, kee chi, longan and red dates tied with red paper and string
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atin Annie Chin and her husband, popular stockbroker Dato’ Lim Tiong Chin, spared no
auspicious send-off with a symbolic big red umbrella, and both bride and groom leave in separate cars to his home.
The bride’s parents must give the bride an
to ensure a sweet life together. Te Chinese are very into “sweet” things as this always means a sweet life! Ten two pairs of clogs are brought to the chanting of the ditty, “kah kiak kah kiak, kia sai ho giak” – (which sounds a lot funnier in Hokkien, but it roughly translates to mean “clogs clogs, bring wealth to groom”). Te day before the wedding, red cloth is put up on the doorway of both houses. Both families celebrate with their family and friends. Ten at midnight, both sides conduct prayers to the God of Heaven and their ancestors, once again with auspicious foodstuff that signify sweetness and growth as well as with Dragon and Phoenix wedding candles. Special rituals are then performed on the bride, who must first shower with seven types of flowers, change into pyjamas given to her by the groom and wear her wedding shoes to perform the prayers.
Tat is when her parents feed her with glutinous rice balls which she must swallow and not bite into. Te parents then comb her hair, after which she serves them tea and they give her a fat angpow. Te bride then retires to prepare for her wedding day. Wedding day is when the groom
comes to the bride’s house with his entourage to fetch the bride. Meanwhile, the bride’s parents are
fixing the veil on the bride. She is then locked inside her bedroom. When the groom arrives, he is greeted by the bride’s youngest brother or cousin for which the groom has to give an angpow. Te groom is then subjected to a
series of “games” designed to test his sincerity. Tese take place at the gate, at the door into the house, all the way into the house… the main players in this part of the wedding ritual include close friends and siblings of the bride and groom. Te test of wills continues
all the way to the bride’s room where the groom is expected to then serenade his bride-to-be. Once he has “passed” all the obstacles placed in his path, the groom takes the bride to his home to officially meet his family. Te bride’s parents must give the bride an auspicious send-off with a symbolic big red umbrella, and both bride and groom leave in separate cars to his home. At the groom’s home, a tea
ceremony is conducted with a new tea set presented by the bride’s family. Te couple then returns to the bride’s home for another tea ceremony, this time to the older relatives of the bride’s side. Ten the bride’s youngest brother offer bird’s nest to the bride and groom for which he gets another angpow. Te couple then retires to their
marital room where the groom takes out all the items from the potty. He also uses a Chinese fan with an angpow attached to remove the bride’s veil, placing both veil and fan on the bed. Te couple then wear the clogs and walk around the room generating as much noise as possible… at which point a young boy (preferably born in the Dragon year, or with an animal sign that does not clash with either bride or groom) will then roll on the bed. Tis is to ensure the couple is blessed with many children, especially sons! All through the wedding rituals
there are celebration parties and fun lunches which culminate in a grand wedding banquet. Tat is when friends and associates come to congratulate both sets of parents dressed in their finest jewels! Tat is when I realized how seriously wealthy local Penangites must be for that night in that room of over 1500 people dining and dancing to a superb live band and obviously having a great time, the amount of serious jewellery on display shone as bright as a million stars. It was very good fun indeed!!
JAN/FEB 2011 | F ENGSHUIWORLD 49
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