Weddings
Celebrations and Congratulations
Yesterday my good friend Sam and her partner Russell, who've I've also known for a long time, got married. It was at the Olive Grove in beautiful McLaren Vale, South Australia. Every one of my dear high school buddies was there. I txt'd them all as soon as I was in mobile range on my return from the bike ride. And then got some great news - Sasha and Frank are engaged. So it was congratulations all round yesterday.
So many beautiful friends declaring their love for each other and taking the next step. So wonderful! I was so excited for Sasha and Frank that I just had to call Sash and have a chat with her - was great to find out all about her special news and to hear how Sam and Russell's wedding was - sounded just beautiful. Looking forward to getting some pictures - (hint hint guys! :)
On Wednesday I went to my second Vietnamese wedding. My Linh, MCD's accountant, got married and we all went to the reception. Vietnamese weddings are very different to western weddings. The actual receptions is lunch or dinner. Everyone arrives and are greeted by the bride and groom and then they all sit down to eat, toasting the couple, then it's all pretty much finished.
But there is a long lead up of special occassions for the couple before the actual day.
First, they decide to get married. Then the engagement occurs where the groom-to-be's family go to the house of the bride-top-be's family and bring many gifts. It is a very special time for both families.
A part of the gifts they bring is a range of traditional Vietnamese sweets and goodies. So when My Linh gave out her invitations, they also came with a beautifully decorated red bag full of some of these sweets - all of which have special signficance.
On the day we received the invitation and gifts, Hanh took me through what each of them represent.
The box has a green rice cake inside - Banh Com. It's a bright green colour, firm but glutinous in texture with green bean paste in the centre. In Vietnamese lore, it's square shape is said to represent the earth, just as the circle represents the sky. So it is symbolic of wishing a good future for the couple.
In the larger red celophane wrapped box is lotus jam - it represents sweet love.
The smaller box contains Vietnamese green tea - another symbol of good health and good luck.
The red square with the gold symbol stamped on the front is called Bans Suse. It is another rice cake and it represents the deep love between the husband and wife. Red is also the colour of good luck.
Finally, the green fruit with the sticker is betelnut - a delicacy popular with the elder Vietnamese women. When the women chew the leaves, it stains their teeth and lips a deep red colour. It's meant to give a little buzz as well, described to me by some as if someone has a cigarette. There is a Vietnamese story about the betelnut, which is why it is given at engagements.
The story is something like this: A man and woman loved each other very much and got married just before he and his twin brother had to go to war and fight for their country. After a long time, the twin brother returned from the war and the lady thought it was her husband. They lived together as man and wife. When the husband returned and the lady realised what had happened they both killed themselves - and the brother did as well. Each of them forming a part of the betelnut - the tree, the leaves and the fruit - and this represents deep love and the bond between the three of them.
I told Hanh I don't understand why the twin brother was elevated in the story and a part of the tree as well. As far as I could tell, he totally tricked the woman and deceived his brother... but she said the bond of family is strong and it shows the link between them all. Fair enough I guess.
I just love hearing the Vietnamese stories - they are so fascinating.
Anyway - here are some photos from My Linh's wedding. Doesn't she look dep qua (beautiful). And he's dep trai (handsome) as well.
Khach San ASEAN (ASEAN hotel); Hanh under the arch entrance.
Yesterday my good friend Sam and her partner Russell, who've I've also known for a long time, got married. It was at the Olive Grove in beautiful McLaren Vale, South Australia. Every one of my dear high school buddies was there. I txt'd them all as soon as I was in mobile range on my return from the bike ride. And then got some great news - Sasha and Frank are engaged. So it was congratulations all round yesterday.
So many beautiful friends declaring their love for each other and taking the next step. So wonderful! I was so excited for Sasha and Frank that I just had to call Sash and have a chat with her - was great to find out all about her special news and to hear how Sam and Russell's wedding was - sounded just beautiful. Looking forward to getting some pictures - (hint hint guys! :)
On Wednesday I went to my second Vietnamese wedding. My Linh, MCD's accountant, got married and we all went to the reception. Vietnamese weddings are very different to western weddings. The actual receptions is lunch or dinner. Everyone arrives and are greeted by the bride and groom and then they all sit down to eat, toasting the couple, then it's all pretty much finished.
But there is a long lead up of special occassions for the couple before the actual day.
First, they decide to get married. Then the engagement occurs where the groom-to-be's family go to the house of the bride-top-be's family and bring many gifts. It is a very special time for both families.
A part of the gifts they bring is a range of traditional Vietnamese sweets and goodies. So when My Linh gave out her invitations, they also came with a beautifully decorated red bag full of some of these sweets - all of which have special signficance.
On the day we received the invitation and gifts, Hanh took me through what each of them represent.
The box has a green rice cake inside - Banh Com. It's a bright green colour, firm but glutinous in texture with green bean paste in the centre. In Vietnamese lore, it's square shape is said to represent the earth, just as the circle represents the sky. So it is symbolic of wishing a good future for the couple.
In the larger red celophane wrapped box is lotus jam - it represents sweet love.
The smaller box contains Vietnamese green tea - another symbol of good health and good luck.
The red square with the gold symbol stamped on the front is called Bans Suse. It is another rice cake and it represents the deep love between the husband and wife. Red is also the colour of good luck.
Finally, the green fruit with the sticker is betelnut - a delicacy popular with the elder Vietnamese women. When the women chew the leaves, it stains their teeth and lips a deep red colour. It's meant to give a little buzz as well, described to me by some as if someone has a cigarette. There is a Vietnamese story about the betelnut, which is why it is given at engagements.
The story is something like this: A man and woman loved each other very much and got married just before he and his twin brother had to go to war and fight for their country. After a long time, the twin brother returned from the war and the lady thought it was her husband. They lived together as man and wife. When the husband returned and the lady realised what had happened they both killed themselves - and the brother did as well. Each of them forming a part of the betelnut - the tree, the leaves and the fruit - and this represents deep love and the bond between the three of them.
I told Hanh I don't understand why the twin brother was elevated in the story and a part of the tree as well. As far as I could tell, he totally tricked the woman and deceived his brother... but she said the bond of family is strong and it shows the link between them all. Fair enough I guess.
I just love hearing the Vietnamese stories - they are so fascinating.
Anyway - here are some photos from My Linh's wedding. Doesn't she look dep qua (beautiful). And he's dep trai (handsome) as well.
Khach San ASEAN (ASEAN hotel); Hanh under the arch entrance.
The married couple with Trang and Hue; Hoang Anh
Khang, Simone and Hanh; Thao, Hoang Anh and Hong.
Thao getting at the good bits of a fish head.
The beautiful couple - and MCD group.
Trang, Thu, Khang and Hong; Hoang Anh, Hong and Khang.
Simone, Hoang Anh, Thu and Hanh; Hong, Hanh and Hien.
My Linh, me and Hoang Anh.
posted by emediate @ 11:38 am
0 comments
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home