Last month, I attended my cousin's wedding held in Johor Bharu. All family members from different parts of the country were invited so it was like a big family reunion. I was also looking forward to seeing my cousin in a white gown which was indeed a rare occasion.
My family and I drove all the way from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Bharu to attend the tea-ceremony at the bride's house in the morning. the groom arrived later with his gang of best men to face the fun challenges arranged by the womenfolks. He must first submit a huge angpow in order to enter the house and see the bride. Then came the tea-ceremony where the couple would present cups of Chinese tea respectfully to every elders in the house. Finally, the bride would officially leave her home by following the husband-to-b to the new home.
In the evening, after a few hours of interval, the ceremony continued in the form of a dinner banquet. During then, I could see the newly-weds were dressed in traditional wedding costumes while they were busy attending to every guest. Although I was more focused on the many delicacies served on the dinner table. There were abalones, sharks fins soup, roasted pig, lobster, crabs and so on. My mouth watered just thinking about all those wonderful food.
Other than that, the other less interesting highlight of the night was the toasts that the newly-weds had to make at every dinner table. It was a gesture of gratitude to all the guests who came. Judging from the vast number of guests there that night, I wondered why the couple did not become totally drunk at all. it was much later when I was told that they were only drinking tea instead of wine.
At the end of the day, the party was over and people started returning home. Everybody left with a full stomach not forgetting to greet the newly-weds with many good wishes and blessings. For me, I hope my cousin and her husband will live happily ever after like the couples in the fairy tales we often hear about.
by CBL
