How the Baba got started

The mainland Chinese who came to Melaka a few centuries ago, settled and married the local ladies. They eventually forget their mother tongue and used Malay as their language. This group of people are known as the Baba and Nyonya. The Baba culture originated in Melaka. Baba culture is a mixture of Chinese and Malay cultures. Their cooking and eating habits are typical Malay style. The ladies still wear the Malay dress called Sarong Kebaya. The Baba clan still observed the taboos of the Malays. So it is not surprising to see the similarities of the both culture in a Baba’s wedding. Traditional Baba wedding is a tedious but happy twelve days affair. In those days, girls were not allowed to go out to mix with the boys. The parents arranged the wedding of their children. These arranged marriage depended upon many consultations and recommendations plus praises of their circles of friends. Firstly, the matchmaker, usually a lady, recommends a girl or boy to a prospective family, The parents will consult a deity or use the Fate Reference Book to find out the suitability of the proposed pair. If favorable, auspicious dates and the exact time for various wedding ceremonies, such as the Wedding time, the Combing of the hair, the preparation of the Bridal Chambers, the Betrothal Ceremony and other connected ceremonies would be set.

The official engagement will be completed with the exchange of a pair of red candles. The wedding invitation will be extended by the groom to be, the master of ceremony and by the mother of their bride to be in highly symbolic meaningful gestures. Baba wedding preparations are unique and picturesque. Actual wedding proceedings will start four days before the wedding day and will last up to twelve days after the wedding day. The house will be cleaned and new curtains will be hung along with red buntings and lanterns. Relatives and close friends will come forward to help.

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