Image and text by courtesy of the Peranakan Museum of Singapore.
Peranakan weddings are largely based on Chinese tradition. They last for 12 days and are usually carried out in the bride’s house. It is one of the most colourful wedding ceremonies in Singapore and Malaysia. In Peranakan, the wedding gift exchange ceremony is known as 'Lap Chai' where the families of the bridegroom and the groom exchange their wedding gifts. This event is held on the weekend prior to the actual wedding day. 'Chye Kee' (a red banner) would be held at the main door from the day the Lap Chai ceremony started until the day after the wedding was over. This is an indication that an auspicious event is about to occur in that home.
Sister's weddingIn one beautiful morning, I saw my sister and family receiving a big basket at the door. I knew that these must be for my sister's wedding but I didn't know what they were for. So, I immediately went to my sister and asked her what the basket is for.
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Photo credit to http://rumahbebe.com/wedding/
Family Story |
Little Nonya: Sister, what is this basket for? |
Tray 1: A ring and a belt and buckleThe full set of jewellery given by the bridegroom’s family is replaced by a ring tied to a silk handkerchief and a belt and a buckle. This gift exchange also represents a ring exchange between the bridegroom and the bride. The rings will be worn by the bridegroom and the bride during the wedding.
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Tray 2: A portion of the pork leg received from the bridegroom's familyOur family received a raw pig trotter from the bridegroom’s family. A small portion of it was cut off out of respect for the bridegroom’s family. This portion also symbolises as an acknowledgement that the bridegroom is the head of the family.
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Tray 3: A pair of candlesWe put an identical pair of candles with dragon decorations, 2 bottles of syrup, 2 packets of longans and oranges. The candles replaced the 2 bottles of brandy given to us, which symbolise female. The 2 packets of longans replaced 4 oranges. In case you did not notice this, the food and drinks we exchange were usually sweet, wishing for a lasting and blissful marriage.
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Tray 4: A full set of garmentsTo replace the cloth given to us by the bridegroom’s family, we put a full set of garments, a fan and slippers for the bridegroom. The acceptance of the cloth given by the bridegroom’s family indicates the acknowledgement of the bridegroom’s role as a provider for the family. My sister personally sewed these garments and slippers to display her skills to the women of her new family.
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BerandamJust 2 days before the actual wedding day, I saw my sister having her hair combed by a hairdresser at our place. So I went up to her and asked her while she was having her hair combed.
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Little Nonya: Sister, are you having your hair combed for the wedding? |
Family Story |
The bride having her hair combed by Sang Kek Um accompanied by a pageboy.
Photo credit to http://nyonya-kim.blogspot.sg/ |
The bride after the hair combing ritual
Photo credit to http://nyonya-kim.blogspot.sg/ |
According to the Peranakan traditions, an experienced 'sang kek um' can distinguish if a bride is a virgin or not by looking at the hairline along the bride's forehead. The Peranakans also believed that the white ribbons symbolise purity and the red ones signify the joyous occasion.
Please have a look at our Special Traditions page to see the other rituals carried out during the wedding>>>
Peranakan Pedia
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Lap Chai
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Peranakan wedding gift exchange ceremony
A red banner held at the main door from the day the Lap Chai ceremony started until the day after the wedding is over
A set of 3 brooches used to secure a blouse called the kebaya.
A female wedding consultant or mistress of ceremony who is very familiar with all the rituals.
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