Traditional Filipino weddings blend Catholic customs with indigenous cultural elements, creating rich and meaningful celebrations that honor both faith and heritage. In this article, let us dive deep into the Filipino wedding traditions and cultures that are practiced till date.
Filipino Wedding Traditions
Filipino weddings showcase a remarkable blend of contemporary and traditional traditions. These cultural weddings are traditionally not just about the individual participants in the traditional matrimony ritual, but also about two families coming together.
They are a celebration between clans that share strong family ties, and they feature attractive attire like barongs, which are traditional lace garments worn by men during wedding ceremonies, and flourishing Filipiniana traditions like the Tinikling folk dance, which is performed to music usually played on castanets or clacking sticks while dancing circles around shrubs dipped in hot oil.
Pre-Wedding Customs
The bride's family receives a visit from the groom's family to request her hand in marriage, which is known as the Pamanhikan. During this customary wooing rite, food is shared and wedding preparations are discussed. In addition to deciding on the day and duties of the wedding, the families frequently trade presents. The couple then goes through pre-cana seminars and canonical interviews, which are marriage counselling sessions.
Traditional Attire
The Filipiniana, a formal version of the national dress with elaborate embroidery and butterfly sleeves, or a white bridal gown, is typically worn by the bride. The barong tagalog, a formal shirt embroidered from piña or jusi cloth, is worn by the groom. These clothes respect cultural history while embodying Filipino grace and sophistication.
Ceremonial Elements
A number of significant customs are incorporated into the wedding ceremony. In the Arrhae ritual, the groom shows his commitment to his wife's welfare by giving her 13 golden coins that have been blessed by the priest. In order to symbolise their marriage, sponsors drape a white veil around the groom's shoulders and over the bride's head during the Veil ceremony. A rope or cord in the shape of an infinity is wrapped around the couple as a symbol of their unbreakable tie during the Cord ceremony.
Wedding Sponsors
Principal sponsors (ninong and ninang) in Filipino weddings act as mentors and spiritual counsellors to the newlyweds. Secondary sponsors help with certain ceremonial tasks: the sponsors of the veil, cord, and candles are all essential to the symbolic rites of the ceremony.
Reception Traditions
The Money Dance, which represents good fortune and financial prosperity, is still a well-liked custom in which visitors dance with the newlyweds while pinning money onto their attire. Traditional Filipino cuisine, such as pancit (long-lived noodles), lechon (roasted pig), and other regional specialities, is frequently served at the reception.
Contemporary Modifications
Filipino marriages nowadays frequently combine traditional and contemporary customs. Couples are increasingly incorporating foreign wedding trends and personalised accents while keeping the spirit of Filipino customs while adhering to basic cultural practices. Undoubtedly, a traditional Filipino wedding is incomplete without plenty of memorable pictures clicked. To book a wedding photographer services, click here!
Conclusion
Filipino wedding customs, which place a strong emphasis on communal celebration, spiritual values, and familial ties, are a reflection of the nation's rich cultural legacy. While retaining their profound cultural value, these traditions continue to develop, resulting in significant festivities that bridge generations past and present.
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