Be my bride the Asian way would you? Pt 2

Based on the request from my last post,we are going to have to leave China folks. You can choose to join the new ride to the Philippines or stay in China,don't sha get deported.

Filipino weddings are a beautiful fusion of  modern and historic customs,it is a tradition of two families coming together not two individuals. Family is a big deal and has a lot of influence in the Filipino wedding. "Baby,even if my parents don't agree,we'll elope" doesn't work here oo,the two families have to become friends and if that doesn't work...well,you might just end up running away and live happily ever after💃💃😅. Weeks or months before the wedding.the period of Panliligaw is observed where the man has to woo his partner to eventually win her hand in marriage,some men in the rural areas do this by way of Harana(serenade) where they would sing underneath women's bedroom windows at night,you will just mistakenly fall down and hit your teeth while singing(leemaoo) and get married toothless😅at least you wooed her😉

The couple then goes from house to house of their invitees to personally make their wedding announcements and hand out official wedding invitations,phone calls wouldn't help this time😅i'll have to see you in person to be invited😎and obviously,you can't come empty handed. The Bulungan which translates to "whispering" takes place in the bride's house which involves the bride and groom's families usually elders gathering together to quietly make plans for the wedding. The arrangements are all conducted with everyone whispering so as not to attract bad spirits and misfortune,if you mistakenly shout or raise your voice oh ye loud parrots,consider your wedding a disaster,it's not going to end well.

The wedding preparations takes place a day before the wedding and is centered around the Filipino concept of bayanihan which involves performing certain heroic acts for the good of the community. The bride and groom's family share different roles in the preparation of the wedding like preparing the wedding reception area,arranging the wedding dishes or clearing the wedding route. Preparations vary by region,religion and ethnic group,some prepare a sticky rice cake using certain wood utensils and placements,others hold a rehearsal dinner for the invitees to get to know themselves before the wedding😁😁

Now to the wedding ceremony proper,the couple asks for blessings from their parents during the ceremony either by kissing their hands or touching the back of their hands to their foreheads and the parents will utter phrases in return .Here in Nigeria,if you like kiss their feet or lick their head, if they don't want to give you that blessing,you won't get it😅.The Godparents of the couple drape a ceremonial lace veil over the bride's head and the groom's shoulder to symbolise being clothed as one,some lifetime entanglement😅😅😅. A ceremonial cord called the Yugal is wrapped around the couple in a figure eight,the Yugal symbolises an eternal bond of fidelity,even if your village people are after your destiny,you will never cheat😅😅,the Yugal is usually a silken cord woven by the mother of the bride,when your mother- in- law is the one that made the silk for fidelity,how dare you cheat😅. As the ceremony proceeds,the groom gives the bride 13 coins called Arrhae as a promise of prosperity,all this rituals are really nice,a promise of prosperity!!!!!!prosperity is all round including financial prosperity,we should start this😎😎the coins are either tucked into a handkerchief,handed individually by the wedding sponsors,godparents or trickled from the groom's hand into the bride's cupped hands.

The next ritual is the shower of rice,grains of rice are thrown on the newlyweds as they walk out of the church symbolising bounty and rain. Rice is one of the leading crops in the Philippines and holds a sacred status. Some regions go through another rice shower when the newlyweds are entering their new home or reception venue.The newlyweds are served a plate of kalamay or sticky rice cakes to symbolize sticking together through their married life. They are given pile of rice cakes wrapped in palm leaves and seated at a table where a chosen bidder bids off the rice cake for them(rice sellers are definitely going to make a lot of money during this period,then the bidding of the rice cake again!!). Godparents,sponsors and guests drop money into a bowl on the table as the bidder playfully persuades them into giving higher and higher amount while the couple gives the rice cake in return.You will have to be loaded my darlings because the highest bidder takes the rice cake,it might not be so important but you are surely going to feel proud of yourself😅😎. The next event is the couple's first dance known as the money dance(hehehehehehehe) guests attach money to the newlywed's clothes using tape or pins. Depending on the region or ethnic group,guests may pin bills or red envelopes and little purses filled with money,this is considered a way to help the newlyweds get started financially. Our Obi cubanas have to show for this beautiful event,you can't be pinning hundred naira notes😅

Finally,in some Filipino weddings,the newlyweds would perform a traditional dance for their guests like the Pangalay,a colourful and elaborate wedding dance performed in some Filipino-Muslim weddings and the Saladsid,,a playful courtship dance by the Kalinga people of the Northern Philippines 😎😎 i will personally like the money dance😭😭who doesn't want free money😂. My beautiful Asian fans,we will draw the marriage curtain here😎the next request will be treated in the next post💃