You’re getting married, congrats! While planning your big day in Malaysia, you’ll encounter some strange traditions and superstitions. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. As a bride or groom, you’ll want to know the meanings behind these peculiar practices. Some are to ensure good luck and fertility or ward off evil spirits. Others are just plain fun. Either way, embracing these customs will make your wedding an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
From not seeing each other before the ceremony to rubbing noses during the tea ceremony, these quirky rituals add colour and joy to your nuptials. So get ready to jump over brooms, cry into handkerchiefs and feed each other glutinous rice balls. Your wedding day only happens once, so why not make the most of these zany traditions? This guide will tell you all the secrets so you can have a promising start to your new life together.
Something Old, Something New: The Meaning Behind This Wedding Tradition
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. This age-old wedding tradition brings good luck and fortune to newlyweds. In Malaysia, following this tradition is a must for an auspicious marriage.
Something Old
The “something old” represents the bride’s past. Often, a piece of jewellery from her mother or grandmother is used. This symbolic item provides continuity between the bride’s old life and her new one as a married woman.
Something New
The “something new” symbolises the couple’s new journey together. The bride usually wears a new dress or accessory like a veil, tiara or necklace. This new item represents new beginnings and optimism for the future.
Something Borrowed
The “something borrowed” is lent to the bride by a happily married friend or family member. By borrowing an item from someone with a successful marriage, the bride hopes some of that good fortune and prosperity will rub off on her marriage.
Something Blue
In Malaysia, the color blue symbolises fidelity and loyalty. The “something blue” is meant to ensure faithfulness in the marriage. Often a garter, handkerchief or ribbon in the bride’s dress, bouquet or accessories provides “something blue”.
Following these small but meaningful traditions on your wedding day will shower you with good luck, fortune and a lifetime of happiness. So embrace your culture and superstitions – your wedding day only comes once, after all! Make it as memorable and magical as possible.
Unlucky Number or Lucky Color? Common Malaysian Wedding Superstitions
Planning a traditional Malaysian wedding? Get ready for some wacky superstitions and customs meant to ward off bad luck and ensure a lifetime of happiness.
The Number Four
Avoid the number four like the plague! Four is considered extremely unlucky because it sounds like the word for “death” in Chinese. Don’t have four bridesmaids, don’t schedule your wedding on the fourth day of the month, and don’t have four wedding favors at each table.
The Color Red
Red symbolises good luck and new beginnings in Chinese culture. Brides often wear red wedding dresses, and decorations, flowers and tablecloths also prominently feature red. Some couples even give red packets filled with money as wedding favors. Red is a must for any traditional Malaysian wedding!
Hiding the Bride’s Shoes
This fun superstition says the groom’s friends must hide one of the bride’s shoes before the ceremony. The groom has to bargain, plead and maybe even pay money to get it back so the bride can walk down the aisle! It’s all in good fun but also meant to make sure the groom will take good care of his bride.
The Gatecrasher
An unexpected guest, or “gatecrasher,” at the wedding is believed to bring good luck. Some couples even hire an actor to crash their wedding! The gatecrasher’s toast and well wishes are thought to bless the new marriage with fortune, fertility and happiness.
With all these wacky traditions, your Malaysian wedding is sure to be an unforgettable celebration of luck, love and joy. May your marriage be as bright as red and blessed with all the good fortune in the world!
Stepping Over the Bride: The Origins of Malaysian Wedding Games
Stepping over the bride during the wedding ceremony is one of the most fun (and strangest!) Malaysian wedding traditions. This playful custom has been around for generations and is believed to bring good luck to the new couple.
As the bride walks down the aisle, friends and family will step over her! Usually, female guests and the bridesmaids will line up on both sides of the aisle and take turns stepping over the bride as she slowly makes her way to the front. The goal is for the bride to stay perfectly still while people hop over her without stepping on her gown or veil. If she moves or makes a sound, the “game” starts over!
This bizarre tradition originated in small villages to bring prosperity and fertility to the new bride. Stepping over the bride was thought to transfer positive energy and good fortune. Today, it’s an opportunity for wedding guests to have fun and make the bride giggle. The silliness and laughter ease tensions for the bride on her big day.
Once the bride finally makes it to the front without disruption, the groom will step over her to seal the good luck and complete the tradition. The wedding ceremony can then officially begin!
Other common Malaysian wedding games include dropping marbles or coins into the bride’s veil or throwing petals at the couple as they walk down the aisle. These lighthearted traditions are all part of celebrating the joys of bringing two families together on the wedding day. Though strange to outsiders, stepping over the bride and other wedding games are an important part of Malaysian culture that bring good fortune, fertility and fun to the new marriage.
Who’s Under That Veil? The Symbolism of the Malaysian Wedding Dress
The traditional Malaysian wedding dress is filled with meaning and superstition. As a bride, the outfit you choose for your big day will reflect hopes for your marriage and ward off bad luck.
The Veil
The veil isn’t just a pretty accessory—it’s symbolic protection. Evil spirits are said to be attracted to brides on their wedding day, so the veil hides the bride to keep her safe until the ceremony begins. Only the groom is allowed to lift the veil, revealing his beautiful bride for the first time. This act signifies his acceptance of her as his wife.
Once the veil is lifted, the bride’s hairstyle is also significant. Loose, flowing hair represents freedom and sexuality, while an updo signifies the bride’s new status as a married woman. Many brides choose a half-up, half-down style to represent independence and commitment.
The Dress
Red is the traditional color of Malaysian weddings, symbolising love, passion and fertility. While many brides now choose white gowns, a red and gold accented dress is popular for its cultural meaning. The longer, more elaborate and embroidered the dress, the greater the bride’s status and family wealth.
Decorations like beads, sequins and gold threads are also meaningful. Circles represent eternity, teardrops signify joy, and the dragon and phoenix motifs symbolise the male and female. The more elaborate the dress, the more blessings and good fortune it attracts.
Some final tips: Wear comfortable shoes under your dress since you’ll be standing for hours! And remember your sarong for extra coverage. Most of all, enjoy this meaningful moment in your wedding journey surrounded by loved ones. Your radiant smile and infectious joy are the most powerful symbols of all!
Feeding Each Other: The Significance of Wedding Cake Cutting in Malaysia
Cutting the wedding cake is one of the most fun and memorable parts of a Malaysian wedding! According to local superstition, feeding each other cake signifies your commitment to care for one another.
You delight in this sweet tradition as the new Mr. and Mrs. Take turns feeding small bites of cake to each other, being careful not to smash it in their face! Some playful smearing is OK, but you want most of that delectable cake to make it into your mouth. Laughter and big smiles are a must since all your guests will be watching and capturing this joyful moment.
Share the love!
To spread good fortune, the bride and groom also feed their parents and elders cake. This shows respect and gratitude for their lifelong guidance and support. Some couples even share cake with all their guests! Whether you feed just family or everyone at the reception, this simple act signifies your appreciation for the people who helped make your wedding day possible.
A wish for sweetness
The cake-cutting ceremony represents a wish for a lifetime of shared sweet moments. Each bite of cake you feed your new spouse symbolises all the little kindnesses, affections and happy times you hope to experience in your marriage. And of course, the more cake you smash on each other’s faces, the more playfulness and laughter you’ll share in the years to come!
This fun-filled tradition is a perfect way to celebrate your new beginning as a married couple. So grab your cake knives, get ready to feed each other with enthusiasm, and smile big for the cameras! The memory of this day, with all its joy, messiness and sweetness, will stay with you for years to come.
Conclusion
Your wedding day is once in a lifetime, so why not have some fun with it? Wedding traditions are meant to be enjoyed, not just endured. Now that you know the meanings and origins behind these common Malaysian wedding traditions, you can participate wholeheartedly. Laugh at the superstitions, make jokes with your guests, and create memories that will last long after the rice has been thrown and the cake has been eaten. Your wedding is a celebration of your love and new life together. Infuse it with joy, silliness and playfulness. Make the day uniquely you, and start your new adventure surrounded by friends, family and good fortune. The future is yours to write – and it looks very bright indeed! Have a magical wedding day.
FAQ
This tradition represents different aspects of the bride’s journey into marriage. “Something old” symbolizes continuity with her past, “something new” represents the new beginning of marriage, “something borrowed” is to bring good fortune from happily married individuals, and “something blue” symbolizes fidelity and loyalty.
The number four is considered unlucky because it sounds like the word for “death” in Chinese. To avoid bad luck, couples typically avoid associations with the number four in their wedding plans.
This tradition is a fun superstition where the groom’s friends hide one of the bride’s shoes. The groom then has to negotiate to get it back. It’s meant to ensure that the groom will take good care of his bride and add a playful element to the wedding.
The veil serves as protection against evil spirits attracted to brides on their wedding day. Only the groom is allowed to lift the veil, symbolizing his acceptance of the bride as his wife and protector.
The cake-cutting ceremony signifies the couple’s commitment to care for each other and share sweet moments in their marriage. It’s a joyful tradition where the bride and groom feed each other cake, and it’s often extended to parents and elders to show respect and gratitude.
