Feast of St John the Baptist/Festa San Juan.

My son,Stevie lights the candles inconjuction with the St.John Festival..Mia filo,Stevie,sandei candia para Festa San Juan.

Even my youngest son,Sheldon does not want to be left out in the feastival. Mia filo keninu,Sheldon juntadu kere sandei candia para Festa San Juan.

Houses beautifully lit. Better than the Christmas lightings.Tudu casa sadei cadia,mas bonitu de Natal.

The Feast of St John the Baptist is a feast of lights.It is celebrated on the 23rd June,every year. In each house and home in the Portuguese Settlement and Praya lane,rows of candles are lit around the houses making the  whole neighborhood a wonder land of lights,and glow in the brightness.This is the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist. This traditional festival has been celebrated by the Malaysian Portuguese for the past 500 years..Over the past decade or so,it has been over shadowed by the Feast Of Sts.Peter and Paul,better known as Festa San Pedro.It is usually a 3 day carnival with food fair and Portuguese cultural dance and music. It is a special day for the children. As a tradition, for every one both young and old to be dressed in green on that day.The colour green symbolizes purity and innocence. While candles are here in Malacca,in Portugal,however,bonfires are lit in village squares and at road junctions. Legend has it that St. John,was supposed to have lit bonfires when he went from village to village.It is also said that St John the Baptist was known as the 'matchmaker' and so unmarried maidens in Portugal considered the festival as an auspicious one.


Cada anu,23 de Juno,tudu casa na Bairo  Portugues de Malaca juntadu cum jendi di alabanda,na Kabesa de Praya,logo sande candei candia para Festa San Juan. Keriansa juntadu cum jenti idadi logo bisti bedri. Nos logo kuze kanji munggu. Naki nos sandei candia,na Portugal jenti logo sandei fogo grandi. Jenti idadi fala,undi San Juan bai eli logo sandei fogo grandi ali kausu nos sansei candia.

The high light of St.John's

Feast is the holy Mass.

Festa de San Juan, sempre

nos bai missa maszianti.

The priest blesses the candles,

Which will then be distributed

Among the families in the settlement.

Padri bensua candia. Isti candia

Para tudu casa na bairu.

Young boys from the settlement with the

Torches. 

Filo de nos sa Bairo com damar.

Fathers lights the torches

Using the fire from 

The Pascal candle.

Which will then be distributed 

To the families in the Settlement .

Padri sandei damar com fogu

De Pascoa. Com isti fogu, eli 

Tudu logo bai sandei casa de

Casa na bairu.

Villagers then lights up the candles

Around their houses with the blessed candle.

Tudu jenti da bairu,bai casa sandei

Candia.

A visitor,from Portugal after 40 years.

On the afternoon of 24th June,2011,a couple from Portugal came to see me. According to the guy,he came here 40 years ago and this is the original picture of my family house which he took 40 years ago. He was very touched upon hearing that both my parents are no longer around. Its so nice to see someone who really appreciate and remember us after all these years. Thank you,Sir.

Na atardi de 24 de Juno,2011 jabeng ungwa maridu muler di Potugal,para encontra cum yo. Eli ja beng naki na Malaca 1971,yo nubu dos anu. Isti pintura eli toma kiora eli ja beng na Malaca 40(corenta anu) pasadu.Eli sinti muitu imfadu kiora ja sabe dos mia mai cum pai ja mureh. Yo muitu gradasia cum eli kausu ja beng ola cum yo ja asoti tantampu,mas podi lembra cum yo sa familia.Obrigado,Sinor.

The aim and purpose of writing this blog,Familia Santa Maria, is first and foremost to preserve the family traditions and language used by the santa maria Family for the future generations and also for everyone to know and learn more of the portuguese language.I am acctually writting out what my late father,Mr. Aloysius Santa Maria,has written. A dictionary of the Portuguese language,customs and tradition of the Portuguese of Malacca. The book however has never been able to publish due to certain curcumstances. As we all kow, the Portuguese in Malacca is a legacy of the Portuguese conquistadores for posterity and the unique customs,traditions and culture found among descendeants of those Portuguese who came to Malacca in 1511.
It is most interesting to note that after so many years, the Portuguese Communit in Malacca is stll speaking a Portuguese dialect known as "the Malacca Portuguese". Words and stories that will appear in this blog,are that of my fore fathers. I think tha it is tim for someone from the Santa Maria family write something for the keep sake of the future generation.Although I was toying with this idea,I knew I was unable to do it n my own. With the use of my father's book,I am able to do this. I hope you will enjoy an appreciate my blog.

Bairro Portugues de Malacca: Greetings and common questions/Nobas cum pregunta ...

Bairro Portugues de Malacca: Greetings and common questions/Nobas cum pregunta ...: "The Malaysian Portuguese use 'Bom dia or Bom Pamiang' -Good morning as a greeting or salutation. For Good afternoon,they say' Bom Tardi or B..."

Greetings and common questions/Nobas cum pregunta ki nos sibri cadadia.

The Malaysian Portuguese use "Bom dia or Bom Pamiang"-Good morning as a greeting or salutation. For Good afternoon,they say'Bom Tardi or Bom Atardi' and for Good night,they say 'Bom Anuti'.


Some common questions:-


Ki bos ta faze? -What are you doing?


Undi bos ta bai?- Where are you going?


Ki-What


undi- Where


faze- to do


bai-to go


casa-house/home


anda-walk/to walk


anda rudia-to go for a walk


greza- church


Yo ta bai anda rudia.-I am going for a walk.


Yo ta bai greza.-I am going to church.


Yo ta bai casa.-I an going home.

The Wedding,part3. Casamintu 3.

After the church ceremony,the couple together with their  sponsors,goes to the bride's house where the wedding reception is held. The bride's parents,together with the bride's maid and best man, usually would be home as soon the wedding ceremony is over.
On arrival,the bridal party alights from the car fron a short distance from the house. The bridal couple,the flower girl and the page boy(ring barer) stands in front,followed by the sponsors,behind them. The bride's maid and the best man then approach and stop about ten feet away from the bridal couple.They then throw scented water and sliced screw-pine leaves and flowers to the newly weds. They continue doing this till they reach the house.

Caba missa, noiba,nuibu bira na casa juntadu cum cumadri cum cumpadri. Kiora ja chega,marakronci logo pinca rampei cum ago cerrozu.

Mean while, the bride's parents stands at the doorway to welcome the bridal party. The newly weds then greets  them with a kiss. This is called 'recebe noiba' welcoming the couple as a married couple.

Chega na porta de casa,noiba nuibu logo da mang cum cera, noiba sa mai pai,keng ta spera na dianti di porta.

The newly weds are then to the bridal dias.Noiba ,nuibu santa na shradu.

Cake cutting ceremony.The man's sponsor will then give a short speech to the bridal couple a little advice may be,followed by a toast. During this time cake and wine is served to all the guests,followed by a small tea party. The newly weds is then congratulated by everyone.

Noiba nuibu  logo cotra  bolo de casamintu. Cumpadri logo lanta saudi. Siara siorus logo lanta saudi juntadu. Caba akeli tudu logo bebe chak. Siara siorus logo da mang cum noiba nuibu.

No Portuguese wedding is complete without the 'branyo'. Nunteng casamintu seng de branyo.

The going away ceremony.
The newly weds are getting ready to make a run for it. This is usually after the tea party. Confettis then are passed around for the guests to throw onto the couple. Its a sign of blessings before they go off for their honey moon.

Caba cumi, noiba logo sibri otro ropa. Noiba nuibu logo cure bai na karet.Aros crua logo pasa cum tudu jenti. 

The couple are making a run for it. Noiba nuibu,bota kure.

Off they go to their car.They will come again for dinner and dance. Noiba,nuibu bai na kareta. Anuti logo teng branyu,cumi cum bebe.

The wedding,Part 2.Casamintu,2.

Abo-abo.
This cake is must have during the making of the bridal chamber. It is made from sago,coconut and palm sugar, wrapped in banana leave and is steamed. It symbolizes purity and Chastity. It's also said to as neat as the bridal chamber.

Abo-abo.
Sampri kiora mara cama,abo-abo logo teng.  Faze ku sago,coku cum jagra. Bota na fola pisang,nos pesagu. Abo-abo,jenti idadi fala,nos faze abo-abo cuma ta mara cama. 

The wedding day.
 Before the bride walks out of the room,both her parent would come into the room to cover her face and as usual,followed with a word of advice.
Dia de Casamintu.
Na dia di casamintu,antu de noiba sai di cama,sa mai cum sa pai,llogo intra ficha sa rostu cum da umpoku palabra bong di sintidu.

Just before leaving for the church,she kisses the hands  of her parents,grandparents,and all the elders of the family. This is a very touching moment for both the family and the bride.
Antu de bai na greja,noiba logo da mang cum sa pai ,mai,abo pai,abo mai,cum tudu jenti idadi di sa familia. Teng logo cura kausi noiba ta bai cum otru familia,logo incontra ungwa anu embes. 

A short speech from the maid of honor and cakes and wine will be served before the bride is sent off to church. She is escorted to church in the bridal car by her father,the maid of honor better known as the lady's sponsor and the bride's maid. This simple ceremony is called'Larga noiba' in direct translation,letting go of the bride. Which means the parents of the bride is willingly letting her go to be married to the man of her dreams.

Larga noiba. 

Antu de bai na greja,comadri logo lanta saudi. Na kareta,noiba logo bai juntadu cum sa pai,comadri cum marakronci.Isti nos fala 'larga noiba'. Pai cum mai ta larga sa fila,cum tudu corasang,ta da caza cum sa omi,ki unsung ja buska.

The Wedding.Casamintu Portugues de Malaca.

The bridal bed. Cama de noiba.

Tea is usually served after the bed is made.Caba faseh cama,nos tudu bebe chak juntadu.

The crown.
This is to signify chastity. It is also a sign that a young girl is getting married in this house whole. It is usually hung on Thursday. It is hung on the front door of both the bridal couple,at the maid of honor's(lady's sponsor) house and also in the bridal chamber.

Kronci.
Thress dia antu de casamintu,Kuinta fera,nos fala 'mara cama'.
Nos bota kronci di meiu di Porta de nuibu cum noiba,sa casa,cum na casa de komadri. Teng kronci nos sambe teng fila-fila ta caza na isti casa.

THE BRIDAL DIAS.

In the days gone by,weddings were usually held on a Tuesday. Today however,due to the change of time,where most people are working,wedding are held on a Saturday. Three days before the wedding, the bridal chamber and the bridal dias will be made. All this takes place in the bride's house.Canopies will be erected.
In the early days,the dias or a platform is made in the living room and elaborately decorated. In those day a mirror would be placed be hide the bride's seat. This is to enable us to see her hair bun. But in these modern days most brides dont don a hair bun any longer.

Shradu.

Akeli tempu, cazamintu sempri na Tesa fera. Agora tempu ja otru,maridu muler ta fazeh sibrisu. Agora tudu jenti caza na Sabdu. Nos mara kama Kuinta fera. Kiora mara kama,nos logo fazeh shradu para noiba nuibu santa. akeli tempu logo teng spelu na tras di noiba logo santa para nos ola sa kondei mas agora ja ente cosi agora tudu noiba nungka fazeh kondei mas.

The making of the bridal chamber.

It customary,that the mother of the groom  lay open the bed-sheet,before the work of making up the bridal chamber is handed over to the Maid of honor. Once the room is ready,it is believed that a widow,a spinster,a woman who is a baren,and a divorcee is not allowed to enter the bridal chamber,for fear bad luck may befall the bridal couple.This practice however is still being done till this very day.

Mara cama.

Mai di noibu logo abri panu di cama. Kumadri logo faseh cama,cum mara krunci na potra di cama cum casa. Kiora cama ja kaba faseh, keng nungka cazadu,ja mureh maridu,numpodi padi(ja asoti tempu ja caza,mas nunteng keriansa,)ja larga maridu numpodi intra na cama di noiba. Isti bela-bela fala midu mal futunia logo kai cum noiba. Ate agora nos,na Malaca sigi isti cumisang.