Peranakan Culture.

This tablecloth with

intricate beadwork was probably used on a choon tok or ‘spring table’ in the wedding chamber.

Many auspicious meanings have been stitched onto the cloth. For example, the pattern of nine bunches of flowers clustered together represents ‘everlasting happiness’ as the Chinese character for ‘nine’ sou

nds like the character for ‘long’. The animals bat, deer, crane and qilin have also been stitched in pairs to symbolize happiness, wealth, longevity, and a bringer of sons respectively. The paired motifs are symbols of double blessings. The dragonfly, grasshopper and cicada are also featured as they symbolize fertility.

"Tok Panjang"

Tok Panjang is actually a Baba Malay word. "Tok" has e meaning of table while "Panjang" carries with it e meaning of table. These two words are put together to literally mean "long table". It is the style that Peranakans prefer to eat for special lunch or when they are at home. However, this does not imply that Peranakans do not eat on round tables. In fact, they do consume their meals on round tables. Tok Panjang is mainly for special occasions and it is of great importance to people of the older generation.The Peranakans do not have a fixed style of eating.

The way the eat, whether or not they eat with chopsticks, fingers or fork and spoons is subjected to their personal preference

Chiu Thau

This rite is considered the most important wedding rite in the 12-day Peranakan wedding celebration as it is a coming-of-age ceremony for the bride and groom. It takes place in the bride and groom's respective homes and both would be seated on a gantang (rice measure) placed within a nyiru (ceremonial bamboo tray). The covered base of the gantang represents the male and therefore, it would be placed upside down for the groom to sit on. On the other hand, the opening of the gantang represents the female and so she would sit on the gantang placed upright. The groom would sit facing inwards towards the house while the bride would sit facing outwards. The almanac, miniature scales, a metal ruler, a pair of scissors, a razor, a mirror, a comb and 12 feet of red silk thread represented important qualities of adult life and are also used in the ceremony. The thread would be tied to the hair of the wedding couple, while the rest would be run over the head, most probably to ensure that the couple remembers the rites. Lap Chai Ceremony In the past, when two families come together for a wedding, basically it is a union of the two families. Therefore gifts were essential, in the exchange, as one of the rites before the wedding. The groom's family is commonly perceived as the provider of the family. The bride is seen as coming into the groom's family. Thus she is usually given a set of jewellery by the groom's parents, it is a full set of jewellery that she would be able to use. The dowry for Peranakan marriages, is always put in a red packet. The difference between the Chinese and the Peranakan practice is that the dowry is relatively little, for Peranakan marriages. For Hokkien Peranakans, the dowry usually comes in multiples of 6. The reason for the rather small amount of money given for dowry is because many Peranakan families would say that they do not wish to be seen as selling their daughters. They value their daughters so they don't feel that they would like to accept a large amount of money in return for marrying their daughter off. The bride however, will take the jewellery, which will be given to her , personally. Hence it belongs to her.

Raw pork leg

It is a gift for the bride's family, from the groom's family. This is because a young girl, the bride, who is a maiden, goes into the groom's family. Since they are taking someone's daughter away from them and into their family, they must 'pay back', in a way. Thus they will present the bride's family with raw pork leg so as to repay them in blood, and the meat is symbolic, in the fact that it is a maiden hence, given to the family in respect of their daughter.

Phoenix candles are given to the bride's family frm the groom's family, which is exchanged for dragon candles presented to the groom's family, from the bride's family. Oranges are fertility symbols. They serve as blessings to the bride and groom, in hope that they will have many children.

Beverly Teo, Peranakan culture.

credits: http://littlenyonya.mediacorptv.sg/ Information from: Peranakan Museum & Mr Peter Wee