Chinese Traditional Wedding in Penang

Traditional Chinese Wedding in Penang (11 February 2017)


Edisi BM

On 11 February, 2017, a traditional Chinese wedding was reenacted at the atrium of The TOP at Komtar. The event was carried out on Chap3 Goh33 Meh2 (十五暝 Penang Hokkien), the 15th and final evening of the Chinese New Year celebrations, which is often regarded as Chinese Valentine's Day, reason being, it is the night of the full moon, and is therefore the most romantic night of the year.

Although most Chinese couples nowadays opt for a modern wedding ceremony, usually held at a restaurant or hotel, in the old days, before there were mainstream hotels, it was customary particularly among the more affluent Straits Chinese to hold elaborate wedding ceremonies. It was after all an opportunity for the rich to flaunt their wealth, if not to the public, then at the very least, to the mutual in laws.

The reenactment at The TOP offers a glimpse of a particular portion of the wedding ceremony. It starts with the wedding procession, with the bride (or sin3niau2 新娘 ) on a hand-drawn carriage arriving at the groom's home, heralded by a wedding band, with the bride's family in the contingent.

Central to the traditional Chinese wedding is the Sang1 Kae1 Mm4 送嫁姆 , or "matron of matrimony". This is usually an elderly lady who is skilled in the intricacies of a wedding. It is her job to ensure every minute detail is observed and properly executed, to ensure an auspicious start of marriage life for the wedding couple. The Sang1 Kae1 Mm4 is often skilled at reciting humourous marriage-related ditties, to put everybody at ease and entertained in an otherwise sombre ritual.

Upon arriving at the groom's house, she is presented to her future in-laws in descending order beginning with the most elderly. This is chereographed as the Tea-Drinking Ceremony. The bride presents sweet tea of dried longan dan dried red dates, to usher a sweet entry into the family. The father is first presented with the tea, or if the grandfather is still living, then the grandfather first. Upon receiving the teacup, the person take one sip, then replaces the teacup on the tray and added a gift to the tray, most commonly an Ang Pau 紅包 but jewellery is often given to, particularly by the mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. The elders are seated while the newly weds stand, and in the case of the parents, the newly weds are to kneel before them.

After the groom's immediate family members have been introduced, the uncles and aunts (with their accompanying spouses) are introduced in descending order according to his station relative to the wedding family. Only age of the related uncles and aunts determines the order they are presented, not that of their spouses. As before, a sip of tea and an Ang Pau to the bridge, and then the uncle/aunt and their spouse vacate the seat for the next in rank.

After the elders have been introduced, it's the turn of those more junior than the newly weds to be introduced. This time the bride and groom take their seat while the children lined up to be introduced to the bride. No tea drinking is involved. The children in descending order by age are introduced. They shake hands with the bride and are given an Ang Pau.

The wedding procession of the traditional Chinese wedding. (11 February 2017)


The wedding procession of the traditional Chinese wedding. (11 February 2017)


The wedding procession of the traditional Chinese wedding. (11 February 2017)


The bride is helped out of the sedan chair. (11 February 2017)


The bride is led by the groom, and accompanied by the Sang1 Kae1 Mm4 toward's the groom's home. (11 February 2017)


The Sang1 Kae1 Mm4's role kicks into high gear as she recites auspicious ditties to tease as well as to bless the newly weds. (11 February 2017)


The newly weds are presented to the groom's grandparents who are seated while the Sang1 Kae1 Mm4 gets ready the tea. (11 February 2017)


The bride is first presented to the grandfather, while the grandmother looks on, Ang Pau at the ready. (11 February 2017)


The bride is presented to the grandmother, who takes the teacup and prepares to place her Ang Pau on the serving tray. (11 February 2017)


Next is the parents' turn to take their seat to be introduced to the bride. (11 February 2017)


The Sang1 Kae1 Mm4 ensures that the ceremony proceeds smoothly and those involved are kept relaxed. (11 February 2017)


The bride presents the tea to her mother-in-law. (11 February 2017)


After a sip of the tea, the mother-in-law replaces the teacup and places an Ang Pau on the serving tray. (11 February 2017)


The newly weds are taken to the temple to seek the blessings of the deities. (11 February 2017)


Group shot of the wedding party. (11 February 2017)

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