Ilocano Wedding Traditions

Ilocano Wedding Traditions
Panagasawa or marriage to the Ilocano is but a reaffirmation of the man and woman's gasat (fate). It is considered a sacred partnership which lasts until the death of either partner. Once the couple decide to marry, the boy informs the girl's parents about their plans. This announcement is known as the panagpudno. Approval is sought from the boy's parents since they usually spend for the wedding and provide for the dowry. When both families agree, the date of the wedding is set either by consulting the planetano (an almanac which lists all good or bad days for all activities), or by communicating through the billeta, a letter sent from the boy to the girl by a messenger. The response is also sent through the same messenger. It is during the palalian, a meeting between both families held in the girl's home, that the sab-ong, the sagut, the parawad and the other details of the wedding are discussed. The purpose of the sab-ong (dowry) is to provide the couple with something to start their married life. It may consist of a piece of land or enough money to buy some land. The sagut is the amount of money needed for the bridal trousseau. Borrowing a wedding gown is taboo for the Ilocano. It is regarded as a grave insult to the families of the betrothed. The sagut provided the basis for the Ilocano boast that "the Ilocano groom always dresses his bride from head to foot." The parawad is given by the groom to the bride's mother as a token of appreciation for properly bringing up her daughter. The sab-ong is presented during the albasya, a long, elaborate ceremony held the day before the wedding.
It is a taboo for a bride to fit in the bridal gown before the wedding because this brings bad luck or misfortune to the couple. It is also taboo for the bride and bridegroom to ride in the same vehicle in going to church for the wedding because this portends bad luck. Care must be taken by the groom when giving the aras (several one peso coins) to the bride during the wedding ceremony. The dropping of even only one coin brings bad luck. Only one matchstick should be used to light the candle of the groom and bride. Those candle burns faster is believed to die ahead. The veil sponsors should pin the veil very well, for there is a belief that a veil that falls augurs an unsuccessful married life.
On the sinadag (eve of the wedding), another ceremony, the saka, is held. In the saka, either at the boy's house or at the convent, the couple are ritually introduced to their sponsors and prospective in-laws. The highlight of the ceremony is the couple's public declaration of love for each other. As a rule , all Ilocano weddings must be held in church. After the ceremony, all proceed to the groom's residence for the padaya. The padaya is a lavish wedding feast which also serves as an occasion for the renewal of family ties and loyalties. This practice enhances community life with the involvement of the neighbors in all the preparations. The reception is a ritual in itself as all participants observe a certain decorum that clearly illustrates the Ilocano respect for tradition. After the wedding ceremony, when the bride and bridegroom arrive at the latter's house, an old maid waiting at the foot of the stairs hands them lighted candles. Care should be taken to have these candles lighted when being carried to the altar inside the house otherwise, one of the couple will die young. The parents of the newlyweds secretly advice their respective son or daughter to go up the stairs ahead of the other. Reaching the top flight first symbolized authority in the family. If the groom is beaten in this race, he becomes ander di saya ("henpecked). If upon reaching the place where the reception is to be held, both the bride and the groom are required to enter the house together as a sign of maintaining the balance of authority in the home and to guarantee equal longevity. Lunch for the newlyweds begins with a dish of boiled mungo beans, a symbol of fertility. The bride and groom take turns feeding each other in a series of pleas which ends in a touching show of love for each other. A highlight of the celebration is the tuptupac or the bitor. These rituals involve the giving of cash to the newlyweds by their visitors. The gifts to the bride and groom are given and counted separately to determine the economic capability of both families. After counting, the money is handed to the groom who hands it over to his wife for safekeeping. The last ritual for the day is the mangik-ikamen in which an old man and an old woman present the dal-lot (wedding song). The theme of the dal-lot is the ups and downs as well as the do's and donts of married life. A day after the wedding, three rites are held. These are the atang, an offering given to the spirits of the departed kinsmen and posing and mangatogangan whereby the groom turns over his personal belongings to the bride.

Ilocano Wedding Traditions

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Ilocano Wedding Traditions

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