Peranakan Fan (A parody of Psy - Gentleman)
Source: Psy - Gentleman, Copyright of YG Entertainment, Korea
Written by: Isa Keng
The Peranakan Museum tour began with the group heading
in and placing our bags in a locker. It was on the Peranakan culture with
details about the symbols behind a Peranakan wedding. We first saw the gifts
that were exchanged in a ritual similar to that of the Malay culture in a
Chinese Peranakan wedding.
We watched with interest as the guide explained the symbols behind the detailed colours and designs the culture when the bride has to wear a certain costume and headdress during the wedding itself. The rituals also caught our eyes. The coming of age ritual gave us insight into how the about-to-be wed couple learns the aspects of responsibility in a marriage.
A
cultural aspect of Peranakan wedding is to seek good fortune to have a male
heir to continue the family name. The tour also showed the group the importance
of adaptation of the religious beliefs in the culture such as adopting elements
of Christianity during the influence of colonial rule in Singapore. On the
whole, the values of respect, family and responsibility have always been
ingrained in the Peranakan wedding culture.
