An Eventful Week
Posted on May 31st, 2008 at 12:03 pmIt’s been an eventful week for the both of us as we race against the time machine to ensure that all the wedding preparation activities get completed on time. So many things .. so little time. Urghhh!
24 May 2008, Saturday - 过大礼 Preparation
Mother and I went down to pick up the customary wedding goodies that we ordered about a month earlier. Each of these customary item bears a special meaning and has a specific purpose that revolves around prosperity, harmony, health and love.
I got to know an interesting practice in the Hokkien tradition. Because Evon is marrying into my family, the gift and return of the dragon-phoenix candles (龙凤烛) is such a way whereby the groom’s family will give a pair of dragon candles and a pair of phoenix candles to the bride’s family. The bride’s family will keep the pair of dragon candles and return the pair of phoenix candles — (收龙放凤), to symbolize “an exchange” of their daughter for a son-in-law.
26 May 2008, Monday - 过大礼 Ceremony
The day started off with a heavy downpour. Back in the olden days, the elders will only draw two conclusions. Either it symbolizes wealth and prosperity or it is simply just an indication that the groom is a stingy chap. Haha! Be it the former or the latter, let the readers decide.
I was fortunate to have Uncle Alick and Aunt Julie to assist me throughout the whole event. In the morning, we collected the wedding cakes from Bengawan Solo at Clementi and headed off to my grandmother’s place to offer prayers to my ancestors. Thereafter, we set off for Evon’s place at Sembawang.
Despite the rain, we were on time. I wasted no time to hand over all the customary items for Evon’s family to her parents.
From left to right, that’s me, Uncle Alick, Evon’s Daddy, Evon’s Aunt and Evon’s Mummy.
The ceremony is also about gift-exchange. Evon’s parents also handed us some customary items and returned part of our gifts for my to bring home. This symbolizes what I slinglishly called “Got come Got go” (有来有往), thereby establishing a harmonious tie between the two families.
Evon’s parents also gave her a set of customary bridal gifts. I had a good time laughing after I saw what I thought to be something extremely hilarious.
I recalled many many moons ago, I actually used that a red potty as the fireman’s helmet …. oh what a deprived childhood one may wonder.
28 May 2008, Wednesday - 安床 Ceremony
We woke up at 5am to prepare for the 安床 Ceremony at 6am.
Mother kept an article that was published several months ago by a geomancer who provided guidance and tips to these traditional customary practice. The basic principle was to put on a new set of bedsheet, pillow cases, quilt and quilt cover for the bridal bed, then followed by placing the bridal lamps on the bedside tables and having a tray of chinese goodies each with auspicious meanings to be placed right at the centre of the bed.
Evon and I wrapped up the ceremony with some nice words of blessings. Well, we can’t put up the photos of the bridal bed after the installation ceremony. A stern warning specific instruction from the elders that no one is supposed to look at the bridal bed or step into the newly-wed’s bedroom until after the couple spent their wedding night in the room .. ke ke … So, please be patient okay? tsk tsk ..
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We’re nearly there …. Coming Monday 2 June 2008 … we march towards Hotel Intercontinental … celebrating our decade of love!