aurora australis

Aurora (extra)

Auroras, sometimes called the northern and southern (polar) lights or aurorae (singular: aurora), are natural light displays in the sky, usually observed at night, particularly in the polar regions. They typically occur in the ionosphere. They are also referred to as polar auroras.

In northern latitudes, the effect is known as the aurora borealis, named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurora, and the Greek name for north wind, Boreas, by Pierre Gassendi in 1621.

Its southern counterpart, the aurora australis or the southern polar lights, has similar properties, but is only visible from high southern latitudes in Antarctica, South America, or Australasia. Australis is the Latin word for "of the South."

Auroras can be spotted throughout the world and on other planets. It is most visible closer to the poles due to the longer periods of darkness and the magnetic field.

Refrences:

Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia:Aurora (astronomy).Retrieved April 3,2010,from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

Conclusion of Baba Nyonya:

I spent 3 weeks to find out about the Baba and Nyonya population, their culture and traditions. They have very strict rules about their customs and each has its meaning in practice. In the past, I did not have any idea about the Baba and Nyonya traditions except with the simple knowledge that they are Malay. Chinese mixed marriage race. After my course, I have to visit Melaka museum to find out more about their house and things they used in the past. If you are interested in learning more about Baba and Nyonya, you should watch a movie filmed in Singapore. This movie is 小娘惹(Small Nyonya). This movie makes me understand the Baba Nyonya history letter.

Taboos or Pantang-Larang for Baba Nyonya Marriages

•Pregnant women are prohibited to touch the items (gift, stuffs, wedding beds etc) or join in the preparations for the marriage ceremony. They are also strongly prohibited from entering the wedding chamber!

•If you have just given birth and have not celebrated the baby’s full moon, the mother and baby are not allowed to join in the marriage celebration or should I say they are not allowed to step in the front door of the groom and bride to be’s house! Even the family members staying in the same house are not welcomed as they are also deemed as “not cleansed“ yet until the baby’s “Full Moon“ celebration.

•Family members who are still mourning the passing away of their family member are also not allowed to join the Peranakan Marriage ceremony as it was deemed very inauspicious to the marriage couple.

•It is a major offences to the peranakan family during the olden days if the guests are wearing a whole black attire or white attire while joining the marriage ceremony as these attire are strictly mend for “sorrow occasion“ or funeral attire.

References:
Malaysia:Melaka.(2008-2009)City Turtle:Baba Nyonya Wedding.Retrieved April 3,2010,from http://www.cityturtle.com/Baba_Nyonya_Wedding.html

Marriage Process

Match-Maker
All the Baba Nyonya Wedding or marriages were arranged marriages. Normally, the elderly will seek the service of a match maker when they feel that their child has come of age to be married.
The match-maker can be a professional match maker or he/she might be one of the close relative or friends. As a return for the successful match making service, the match maker will receive a red-packet (with monies) and roasted pig trotter.

Merisek
A group of elderly people (from the bridegroom family) will pay the short listed future-daughter-in law’s family a visit. This visit is known as “merisek“ , a custom that you could find both in Malay and Chinese community.

The “merisek“ group is normally headed by the match-maker and a few elderly relatives from the bridegroom (The bridegroom parents will not participate in this “merisek“ visit). The “merisek“ group will inform the girls’family of their intention and to seek approval.
They will not talk formally (in normal daily conversations) but talk in a mixture of quatrain or pantun. (Malay influence).

To ensure that the couple has a happy wedlock, they will ask for the intended girls’ date of birth or “Pek Zhi“. Later they will consult a Feng Shui Master to check the boy and girl compatibility with each other. After everyone has come to an agreement, a ceremony of exchanging gifts between the two families known as Lapchai (engagement day) will be held.

Cheo-thau Ceremony
Nowadays, the “merisek“ ritual has long been abandoned. The Baba Nyonya wedding ceremony starts with the performance of purification-and-initiation-into-adulthood rites. This ceremony or ritual is known as Cheo-thau. It is done by both parties (bride & groom) at their respective homes during auspicious hours agreed upon earlier.

Chim-pong Ceremony
Next is the Chim-pong or the coming-together-of-the-bride and bridegroom ritual. This is when the couple pays homage to heaven; earth and man before a special three-tiered alter called sam-kai. Elaborated preparations can be seen at the alter table. This ritual is very important as the marriage is dully solemnized during this stage.

The whole practice is guided by an elder known as Sang Kheh Umm or Mak Andam (Chief Mistress) to ensure the smooth flow of the marriage ceremonies and rituals. The Sang Kheh Umm is experienced in the obligatory rites & rituals of Baba Nyonya Wedding.

Every gesture and movement of the couple has been carefully rehearsed to synchronise with music supplied by a Chinese clarinet. This music is known as “Seronee“. The trademark of Baba Nyonya wedding is when the couple will have to walk sideway.

The First Look
The bridegroom will only get his first look at his wife when they meet in the bridal chamber. This is the time when the husband is allowed to lift the veil over his wife’s face with guidance from the Sang Kheh Umm again! (The veil needs to be lifted smoothly without dropping it on the floor).

However, the wife is even then forbidden by tradition to steal a glance at her husband. It would be deem as immodest to do so as relatives and friends milling in and around the chamber. Her chance comes not long after both of them sit down for their first meal together.

References:
Malaysia:Melaka.(2008-2009)City Turtle:Baba Nyonya Wedding.Retrieved April 3,2010,from http://www.cityturtle.com/Baba_Nyonya_Wedding.html

Introduction of Nyonya and Baba Wedding

The Baba Nyonya community; also known as Cina Peranakan is one of the unique community found in Melaka. This community has existed before the 15th century due to intermarriages between the Chinese traders and local Malays.

Their existence could be seen clearly based on their unique house architecture, attire (Kebaya Nyonya & Kasut manek-manek), cooking and language (Bahasa Peranakan).

A traditional Baba Nyonya Wedding or Peranakan Wedding is loaded with complex rites preparations and numerous ceremonies which lasts up to 12 days! It’s a very tedious process (both in preparations, time and money) that most of the younger generation prefers to skip some of the ceremonies.

Similar like their Chinese counterpart, the Peranakan put a great emphasis on choosing auspicious dates and times. However, their taboos are much more and strictly observed than the Chinese.



References:
Malaysia:Melaka.(2008-2009)City Turtle:Baba Nyonya Wedding.Retrieved April 3,2010,from http://www.cityturtle.com/Baba_Nyonya_Wedding.html

Nyonya Clothes

In the past, women wore a sarong with kebaya top baju panjang or kebaya similar to the Malays. The baju kebaya is transparent and displays motifs such as flowers, birds, goldfish and peacock. The more intricate the pattern the more expensive. It can cost anything between RM600 and RM1,000.

References:

Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Chinese Association: MALAYSIA POTPOURRI: The Baba/Nyonya community. Retrieved April 3,2010, from href="http://www.mca.org.my/ENGLISH/MOVEMENTCHINESEGUILDS/Pages/MALAYSIANPOTPOURRITheBabaNyonyacommunity.aspx">http://www.mca.org.my/ENGLISH/MOVEMENTCHINESEGUILDS/Pages/MALAYSIANPOTPOURRITheBabaNyonyacommunity.aspx