Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Love, Peace, and Wacky Traditions: Thailand

In Thailand the weddings are complicated and are filled with much symbolism that will ensure that the couple have good luck. Below a few ideas to piggy back on:

1. Thailand, like China, has a number they favor too. 9 is lucky and since Tony and Ann's wedding is in September 2009, they are on the right track. This is a table that should have only 9 guests and it should be table #9. As the silver charm #8 for the China inspired table, order the number 9 from the Charm Factory.
2 .Making Merit is a very important custom. Buddhist priests are invited to the wedding and donations are made to a local temple which ensures a life time of love in the marriage. In some weddings couples will grant animals their freedom. Some release birds or take a turtle back to the sea. These are very nice gestures but why not make a donation to an animal rescue service. Each guest at this table can have a donation made in their name.

3. The Shell Ceremony-Rad Nam Sang which translate to "soak with water". The couples and also the guest's, hands are washed using a conch shell with holy water.

I had this idea for that is inspired by this custom, give the guests conch shell soaps. Give the guests the explanation and they will get something they can use and enjoy. These shells can be found at Suddz Soap Company. Add a note that describes the hand washing ceremony. I know it is a stretch but I think it works.


4. White Thread Ceremony 'Phiti Bai Sri Su Kwan' is where the couples sit next to each other and a elder gives them sage advice and blesses them. White threads are linked and soaked in holy water. The thread is pulled from side to side and when it is broken who ever gets the longer thread is the one that loves the deepest.
Relatives will tie strings around the couples wrist (Sai Sin) to wish them good luck. Do this in reverse. Give your guests white rubber bangles (OK this is a stretch, but it is fun and really cheap), found here.
However I say use the silver #9 charm using a white cord and tie this around your guests wrists.

There is more about Thailand Wedding Customs




Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Peace, Love, and Wacky Traditions: Chinese Inspired Gifts

Group Wedding Ceremony

My Couple Tony and Ann (See Peace, Love and Wacky Traditions) gave me a list of countries that each reception table could represent. Here is my take on China:

In China Red is a color that represents joy, luck, happiness. The bride also carries a red umbrella open down the aisle which will protect her from evil spirits. The Chinese also believe that the Number 8 is good luck and an estimated 9000 couples got married last year 8.8.08 . I think they may have set a record.
Here's 8 ideas that incorporates this Chinese traditions.

  1. The table should have only 8 guests, since 8 is a lucky number in China.
  2. The Table number is 8. Or use a photo of your travels as the table assignment instead of numbers.
  3. Red parasols for the 8 guests at the table
  4. If the parasols are too expensive use red fans (really inexpensive).
  5. Decorate the table in red with a red table cloth and gold accents
  6. Give each of the guest a silver #8 charm (not as expensive as it sounds) tied with a red ribbon or cord.
  7. Packages of red tea along with tea balls
  8. Throw in some tea cups
Below the who what where links:
Good Luck Tony and Ann

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Peace, Love, and Wacky Traditions


Tony and Ann (above) are planning a wedding that includes their interests from many of their travels from around the world. This includes 2 years in the Peace Corp. Their vision for the wedding is to have gift favors at each table from a country that was memorable and important to them. Tony and Ann forwarded a list of countries they need ideas for. I hope you will follow me around the world, it's a trip you won't need a passport for.
Below a description of the photos.

"The first one is at the beginning of our Moroccan adventure in 2007. We crossed over from Spain at the Rock of Gibralter into Tangier, then picked up this rental car, only t find that it wouldn't start. There were, of course other glitches along the way, but the trip was fantastic and we loved Morocco, particularly Fez. The second picture was taken in the Medina there, Ann with one of her almost-purchases."


"The final picture is from my Peace Corps days in El Salvador - I'm with my theater group, we did a play about pregnancy and religion in small town life in Mexico. It was a comedy."


Keep checking for updates and ideas.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

What's In A Name

I've been away for awhile, but I have an exciting project that I will tell you about in another post. For now I have an idea that I think is really cool, see below.


Instead of having table numbers, use African names and the meanings. Here are some examples of names. Give the meaning and origin on each table. You can even create a lettered necklaces (just a little DIY project) as favors.

Just a small example of names from this site, Name Site.com:
Marbruke: Blessed from Swahili from Kenya/Tanzania, Male
Manzilli: Sent by God from Kenya/Tanzania, Male
Madaha: Graceful from Kenya/Tanzania, female

See you soon with more posts.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Portugurese Wedding: A Photographers Moment

Photo was captured by Colorblind Productions

Beyond the music, Portuguese events are about the food! Portuguese weddings are traditionally slightly different then typical receptions. The cocktail hour goes for upwards of 2 hours. Read more from Colorblind Productions

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

2 Husbands +1 Wife= More Land

Love those braids
really
I love the braids

Read more about Oprah's visit

If you haven't heard about Yearning For Zion Polygamist Ranch, welcome back from under that rock. Plural marriages got a real sock in the jaw when this community was revealed on the news. Children were removed (over 400) and their unique way of life was questioned everywhere. But polygamy is a world wide custom practiced by other cultures who live comfortably in their communities .

Mustang, Nepal

Anyway, my question is can a woman have more than one husband? Although this is less common, the practice is polyandry. In my search I found that there is a place on earth called Mustang, located the northwest part of Nepal. It is one of the few places in the Himalayan region that has retained their traditional Tibetan culture. Which includes a wife having more than one husband.

This is how it works, a man wants to marry he has to give the woman's family a piece of land as a dowry. Then another brother wants to marry he must do the same. So as not to loose their domain through marriage, brothers will marry his brother's wife. Many brothers can share one wife because there is a lack of tillable land.


Men can be pretty demanding for attention, so they handle it very organized. Each husband is on a schedule. How will they know who is the father of the children. The eldest of the men will be called father and the other men are called uncle.

Now if we could get the networks interested we've got a reality show. No wait, something like that already exist.....Maury Povich.

More on Mustang, Nepal

Sunday, March 22, 2009

African Dance Ole' School Style


African dance is a fun way to loose weight and an opportunity to have a cultural connection. Here in New York you can get connected to your own culture or learn about a new one while getting in shape.

Join KowTeff for our 1st Community Dance Class of 2009 with master dancer Malang Bayo! Class will be held at St. Phillip's church in the historic Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Teaching artists Kow Teff and Tilisha Bradley-Goveia will lead a children's class at 11am, immediately before the community class. KowTeff's fun and high energy classes are taught by master African diaspora dancers, feature live djembe, kuitiro and sabar drumming which is great for families and African dancers of all level.

1st Class of the 2009 Series

$10.00
Featuring
Malang Bayo
Master Dancer from Le National Ballet De Senegal

March 28th 2009
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
at
St.Philip's Church
265 Decatur St.
(Stuyvesant & Lewis Aves.)
Brooklyn, NY 11233
A or C Train to Utica Ave; B25 or B26 to Lewis Ave; B46 or B15 to Decatur St.

Children's Class
$5.00
Featuring
Tilishia Bradley-Goveia
11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Classes are FREE to St. Philip's Members, but you must register in advance.
Call Sherri Hobson-Greene: 718.452.2920

For more info about the dance company
Call: Sewaa Codrington 347.232.7834

Kowteff African Dance Company

Kowteff African Dance Company on My Space