Philippine Weddings: An Overview of its Ancient Superstition and Practices
The Philippines as we all know in our geography is an archipelago thus the Filipinos are scattered among its many islands. Although the Filipinos are living in one nation they are diversified in their beliefs and traditions according to the island and region where they belonged
Superstitious as it may seem but it could not be averted since it has been a legacy handed down to them by their elders of the ancient time. Among the Filipino folklore, Weddings gathered the most traditional practices. “Pamanhikan” is widely known and practiced among Filipinos anywhere in the Philippines. It is the time where the groom and his parents would ask the hand of his bride from her family prior to the wedding day. Both parents would plan about the up coming marriage and arrange the wedding preparation. Following this “pamanhikan” the groom and the bride are forbidden to talk or see each other until the wedding day comes. Along with the restrictions is riding vehicles and going somewhere before the wedding should not be done as it will cause accident to either of the couple resulting to death. Another inevitable practice is the wearing of the wedding gown before the wedding takes place. It is said that a horrible thing will happen if the bride will fit her wedding gown.
On the wedding day during the ceremony something must be broken in order to ward off bad luck. Dropping the wedding rings, candle or veil will mean that the couple’s relationship won’t last long and soon they will be parted. If the candle at the groom’s side will melt faster than the bride’s it meant that the husband will die ahead of his wife. And if the bride wants to empower her husband she must step on the left toe of her groom during the wedding march and taking their vows. Couples should also avoid the thing Filipinos called “sukob”. It is getting married on the same year a sister or a brother of the bride was married. For the well wishers who’s attending the wedding it is a bad omen for the couple if somebody will wear black dress. As black portends mourning and sorrow thus it is prohibited.
When the wedding is over the bride and groom are then meet with a shower of rice, salt and sugar confetti for them to have an abundant life. Before entering the reception hall they have to drink the bitter tonic which symbolizes the adversity and hardship of life. It is known to give them strength to face all of their trials as couple. During the opening of their gift the couple must make sure the first gift they have to open is an “arinola” to give them good luck.
These are just few of the common wedding custom and tradition practiced by Filipinos. If these practices really are effective only the couples know. However modern Filipinos now a day are trying to shun that practice, because they believe that only God knows the future and only our faith and trust in Him will ward away evil and misfortune.
Doc. No:1026-JJ-ULT10-hg55
Danny Zito is a avid show goer and loves giving advice on enhancing your concert experience. Check out his confetti , mylar confetti and his Kabuki streamers