Posing for wedding photos |
Three is considered a particularly favourable
number in Cambodia
because of its correlation with the "three jewels" of Buddhism: the
Buddha, the Sangha (brotherhood of monks), and the Dhamma (the Buddha's
teachings). It should come as no surprise then that Cambodian weddings
traditionally last three days and three nights.
I will include here only the main ceremonies that
form part of every Cambodian wedding. There are others which families can
choose to incorporate: a ritual cleansing, a plea for blessings from the
families’ ancestors, and blessings by local monks. As family bonds are extremely
important to the Cambodian people, the most significant aspect of all weddings
is the joining together of two families.
The ceremonies begin with the groom and his
family travelling to the bride’s family’s house to take a time-honoured range
of gifts, including foodstuffs like fruits and vegetables, pastries and desserts,
amongst other things. Sometimes, this can involve busloads of people travelling
to the bride’s homeland but, where the couple lives in the same town, traffic
stops as the groom and his entourage process through the streets in all their
wedding finery. And finery is the most appropriate word to use here as everyone
dresses in their best clothes and the women, in particular, make a dazzling
display of flamboyant colour. Tops sparkle with beading and sequins, and the rich,
vibrant silks of their ankle-length skirts shimmer as they walk elegantly
along.
Above centre is the groom (wearing white and yellow), flanked by his parents |
The women in their finery |
Glittering fabrics at a local market |
The bride and her bridesmaids are also
resplendent in gorgeous traditional clothing, often wearing different costumes
for each of the three days. As the expense of all this finery quickly mounts up,
the costumes are often hired – I remember walking behind a wedding party who
had stopped for photographs and seeing the women’s costumes had been pinned
together at the back to fit their slender bodies.
The presentation of the dowry is accompanied by traditional
songs – in fact, when you live near someone who’s having a wedding, it seems
like every single minute of the three days and nights is accompanied by songs,
very loud songs that blast out at a multi-decibel deafness-inducing volume on
loud speakers designed to disperse the joyful music far and wide. As well as
the music, there is often a master of ceremonies, a compere who loves to hear
the sound of his own voice and explains every single thing that is happening.
The dowry procession is not the only thing that
stops traffic. Inevitably, the bride’s family house is not large enough to
contain the hundreds of wedding guests, so a marquee is erected – in the
street, if their property isn’t large enough to accommodate it. The marquee
itself is every bit as colourful as the guests it contains - lipstick pink is a
favourite hue - and the entrance is often decorated with a vivid array of
flowers and a sign inscribed with the names of the happy couple.
Brings a whole new meaning to the idea of a drive-in |
On day two of the wedding, the hair-cutting
ceremony is held. These days the hair cutting is symbolic rather than actual –
the bridge and groom wouldn’t have any hair left by the time the master of
ceremonies, both sets of parents and all the various relations and friends had
snipped off their portions. This ceremony apparently symbolises the beginning
of a new start for the newly weds, and is accompanied by blessings and well
wishes for their future happiness and prosperity – and more traditional songs.
The pairing ceremony is held on day three. This
is where the bride’s and groom’s wrists are literally tied together with
special strings by their family members and friends – presumably, ceremonies
like this in various cultures are the origin of the saying ‘tying the knot’.
And, of course, the knot tying is accompanied by even more traditional songs.
And then the party begins, with much feasting and
drinking and dancing. For the happy couple, the solemn rituals are over, and
they can relax and have fun. The amount of fun they have on their wedding night
(and for many nights afterwards) becomes apparent nine months later, when their
first baby makes an appearance!
These days, wedding costumes can be a mixture of the traditional and the modern. |
Hi Annie! Your blog is very interesting to read! I’ve been following for a couple of months now and I learn a new bit about the world every time you post, plus you always manage to find the perfect balance – your posts are never too long or excessively informative. Thanks for sharing your adventure! I think you’re very brave and lucky to be able to explore the world like you do.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kate. I'm really glad to know that you enjoy my blogs and I'll try to keep getting that mix right!
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