Traditional Wedding Ceremony

Hi Everyone,

As I have promised you before, I will catch up with you with a few interesting post I get from my recent holiday in my husband hometown.  The first part will be this post. Well, this is the main reason of the long holiday.  The wedding of my husband’s younger sister in traditional ceremony of their own ethnic called ‘Dusun’ which means orchard in Malay Languange, though it has nothing to do with orchard or whatsoever. It might just a coincidence and perhaps it has some other meaning in Dusun Language.  I am not very sure about that.

For your kind information, there are hundreds of different ethnic in Sabah. One of it is called Dusun or in some places called Kadazan. And even the ethnic of Dusun has a slightly different culture based on a different district all around Sabah. And the one I am going to share is the traditional wedding of Dusun  ethnic of Tambunan District. Hhhmm..I hope I explained it well.  It’s quite complicated even for me. And just for your personal info, I am not a Dusun but I came from another ethnic called ‘Sungai’ which means river in Malay language.  Isn’t that interesting??? Orchard meets River??? Hmmm. 

Ok, I will explain it phase by phase as best as I could.  This is how it goes.

Phase 1: Preparation

This includes the preparation of ‘tapai’, a traditional alcoholic drinks of most dusun ethnic.  And I tell you, it’s a must in every celebration they have.  Some even quotes to me that ‘tapai’ is much more important than food when it comes to any celebration. But I guess, it depend on individuality. Other than that, they will work together to build a camp and decorate it, chase,catch and slay a cow for meals during the feast, Cooking etc. All sincerely done together by the whole villagers.

'Tapai' in 'Tajau'.

'Tapai' in plastic bottles and A bamboo big 'suki'.

Cooking

Some more cooking

Vegetables Cutting

Cow Beef Cutting

Wedding Backdrop Decorating

The Entrance Decorating

Phase 2: The Wedding Day / The Traditional Ceremony

The bride will be placed on a nearby house and it will be the groom’s close family or relatives responsibility to fetch her and bring her to the celebration house. It sound simple but actually, the groom’s family has to drink lots of ‘tapai’ before and during the ceremony. Well..some of the groom’s families cannot even make it to the celebration.  So, it’s good to send a ‘smart’ drinker relatives to get the bride. The bride and her bridesmaid is also has to drink some of the ‘tapai’ as they reached the celebration house.  And before the bride step in to the door, her ‘sirung’ (some kind of traditional hat), has to be taken off by an elderly woman with some ancient words whispered to the bride.  I was told that, the ‘sirung’ shouldn’t be taken off once the bride already wear it till the elderly woman took it off.  It will be a bad luck. And after that, the bride and groom will have a sharing meal ceremony or in Dusun Language called ‘miilang’. That is the end of the traditional Ceremony.

The Arrival Of The Groom's Family

The Groom's Family

Traditional Instrument Called 'Gong'.

The Bride Starts The Journey

Ohh yea...It was raining and muddy.  Lucky them. :)

Drink the 'tapai' before entering the house

Finally, the Bride meets the Groom

'Sirung' take off Ceremony. What do you think the bride is thinking? Or perhaps you'd like to ask what was I thinking when I was doing the same ceremony on my own wedding.

'Miilang' Ceremony

'Miilang' Ceremony in front of the villagers

Preparing for lunch with the guests

A pray before eat. :)

The Close Up picture of the Bride and Groom, Alice & Elford in their Traditional Costume.

Phase 3: Where old ways meet modern days

The bride and groom change their traditional costume and prepare for the party.  But still they have to taste the traditional alcoholic drinks. The famous ‘tapai.

Changed to Evening Gown..The Bride with her younger sister.  Her only sister.

Cutting the Wedding Cake

Tasting the 'Tapai'.

Is it sweet?  Or Sour?  Well..both I guess.

Phase 4: And The Party Began

What can I say???  It's all about dancing, eating and drinking all night long!

The Bride & Groom in slow dance.

Served a 'tapai' drink in small bamboo 'suki'.  Or we like to call this...'fishing'.

The 'Tapai' serving men or...should I say the 'fishing men'??

Dance!!!

The villagers/guests drinking 'tapai'.

Another Dance!!!

Ohh yeah...let's shake it.

Merry Go Round

Finally...the picture of the unofficial Camera Woman and Video Man. Or should I say...I save the best for last?? Hehehe.

My Hubby and Me. :)

So, I hope you enjoy the sharing as much as I am.  I would like to state here that, the ceremony above is a much more simpler than what they had in the old days.  And all the interpretation I write about the ceremony is all based on my own interpretation and observation as a different ethnic woman ‘adopted’ to the Dusun community in this village.

And just for your reference, I have uploaded a post about Alice & Elford's church wedding taken last June on my previous blog.  Kindly check this site if you are interested:

http://elchristranquility.blogspot.com/2011/06/weddings-is-everywhere.html

That’s all for now guys.  I will see you soon in my next post.

~Until Tomorrow~