All About Wedding Traditions

What's your wedding tradition? I guess its different in your other part of the world huh?, not unles you are from the Philippines:-). Well if you're indeed not from my side of the world, let me back track and share to you some of our wedding traditions, i bet theres a lot but i can only pin point a few and maybe...add on it as we go along.

Growing up in an environment rich with this culture and traditions is interesting and thanks to those historians and writers who burn their midnight candles just to share this to the future generations. I could just read some of these practices now in my history and culture books rather than witnessing it in real time!

Nevertheless, i'm glad we are now in the 20th century! :-p, Not that i dont like it but its quite really awkward if it's still praticed nowadays. Phew! I dont need to let my groom pass through these traditions at all. I was even wondering how my fiance would think if i let him do the "paninilbihan", the egg offering or the "pamamanhikan"(this is still being practiced in some parts though)to name a few, not to mention that he is from a foreign land.:)But i'm sure he will do if needed be, right honey? hehe.. Well, they may even have their own traditions back in his country.

Moving on, among the most popular filipino tradition is called the "pamanhikan" wherein partners seek their folk's blessings for a happy and successful marriage. It is often hosted by the bride's family where the groom and his parents set to visit the bride's family to formally ask her hand in marriage and discuss plans for the upcomming wedding.

Another tradition is called the "paninilbihan" which is one of the oldest tradition of a filipino family. Through the "paninilbihan" the groom has to be in the brides house to serve the bride's family to impress them. he has to be there from sunrise till sunset for a couple of months before the wedding. Thats how the groom have to impress the family and prove to them how sincere his love is for the bride. Back in the old days, where life is simpler, imagine the groom gathering and chopping firewood no stoves then)for the family's cooking, fetching water from a distant well (a wishing well? hehe..), or clean the house, or even do farming for the family (how sweet!).

Another tradition is the "Alay ng Itlog kay Sta. Clara" or the egg offerings to Saint Claire. Catholic Filipino couples visit the monastery of St. Claire to offer eggs to the patron saint and request the nuns to pray that their wedding day be 'rain-free'.

These are just one among the many traditions of my folks in the early days. Stay tuned if you want to know more for i'll be adding more interesting facts about the wedding norms and traditions of my people.

See ya! :)