SeNdiNg DowRy GiFts
Today is the fourth day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. It's also the day chosen by my grandmother as an auspicious day to send dowry gifts to my Wifey, the soon-to-be Home Minister.
The Day started with preparing a 4-level Dowry Basket filled with 16 big round oranges (decorated with the Double Happiness Xi Chinese word), 16 cans of stewed pork leg (similarly decorated with the Xi word), 4 packets of "long-life" mee sua, 2 bottles of Jacob Creek red wine covered in red wine jackets, the traditional "si-dian jin" (4-point gold literally), 2 boxes of sweet cakes and various other angbaos representing items such as cakes etc. The angbaos contained amounts such as $2888 (next step up is san or 3), $7888 (next step up is fa or 8) etc.
My aunties and uncles from my Mother's side and a number of aunties and uncles from my Father's side appeared. It caught me unawares as I did not know that the Day was supposed to be so elaborate. Even my grandmother was present!
At about 11am, two aunties (representing the matchmakers) and two uncles, together with me, carried the Dowry Basket to the Wifey's place. As the Wifey's place is very near to my Parents' place, we arrived in less than 10 minutes. To the sound of a lion dance (there was one engaged somewhere in the block), we entered the Wifey's house. The family took half of all items and returned our gifts. The experience was almost overwhelming causing me and the Wifey to be tongue-tied. A plate of items signifying many generations, having children sooner, longevity etc was returned to me to carried to our new place.
At about 12pm, we departed for my Parents' place. My grandmother was very happy at the sight of the returned gifts. An angbao for "lao ma cake" (or old grandmother cake) was given to my grandmother. Drinks were made for everyone with the "returned" Sunkist juice. It signifies sweet sweet life for everyone. The elaborate family present had our lunch. I then returned to my new place to retrieve a hand-cut "long-feng" (Dragon-Phoenix) paper-cutting made by my auntie. This cutting will form the backdrop for our Tea Ceremony on 1 March 2007 (or the 12th day of the Lunar Chinese New Year).
In the late afternoon, my Mother, Brother and myself departed for our relatives' houses to give out the rest of the invitation cards. In the end, the Wifey and myself met at our new place. We will stay overnight before going for our suit and gown final fitting tomorrow (22 February 2007).
The Day started with preparing a 4-level Dowry Basket filled with 16 big round oranges (decorated with the Double Happiness Xi Chinese word), 16 cans of stewed pork leg (similarly decorated with the Xi word), 4 packets of "long-life" mee sua, 2 bottles of Jacob Creek red wine covered in red wine jackets, the traditional "si-dian jin" (4-point gold literally), 2 boxes of sweet cakes and various other angbaos representing items such as cakes etc. The angbaos contained amounts such as $2888 (next step up is san or 3), $7888 (next step up is fa or 8) etc.
My aunties and uncles from my Mother's side and a number of aunties and uncles from my Father's side appeared. It caught me unawares as I did not know that the Day was supposed to be so elaborate. Even my grandmother was present!
At about 11am, two aunties (representing the matchmakers) and two uncles, together with me, carried the Dowry Basket to the Wifey's place. As the Wifey's place is very near to my Parents' place, we arrived in less than 10 minutes. To the sound of a lion dance (there was one engaged somewhere in the block), we entered the Wifey's house. The family took half of all items and returned our gifts. The experience was almost overwhelming causing me and the Wifey to be tongue-tied. A plate of items signifying many generations, having children sooner, longevity etc was returned to me to carried to our new place.
At about 12pm, we departed for my Parents' place. My grandmother was very happy at the sight of the returned gifts. An angbao for "lao ma cake" (or old grandmother cake) was given to my grandmother. Drinks were made for everyone with the "returned" Sunkist juice. It signifies sweet sweet life for everyone. The elaborate family present had our lunch. I then returned to my new place to retrieve a hand-cut "long-feng" (Dragon-Phoenix) paper-cutting made by my auntie. This cutting will form the backdrop for our Tea Ceremony on 1 March 2007 (or the 12th day of the Lunar Chinese New Year).
In the late afternoon, my Mother, Brother and myself departed for our relatives' houses to give out the rest of the invitation cards. In the end, the Wifey and myself met at our new place. We will stay overnight before going for our suit and gown final fitting tomorrow (22 February 2007).
posted by ThE AvErAgE SiNGaPoReAn MaLe | 7:31 PM
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