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.

The Lady of the Immaculate conception.Nosiora de consensang. Nosiora de concencao.

To my understanding, this statue was found way back during the Japanese occupation. When first found, it was originally black in colour. This statue was found by Mr. John Felix. He first kept it in his house. It is said to have some miraculous power but when it was painted,it is not so of a miracle any longer. And when war was over, The people of the settlement decided that this statue should be used for the block rosary. And each family is able to keep this statue for 3 days in their house. On the third day, the statue is carried to the next house. This practice has been going on for  as long as I can remember and is still being carried on till this very day.  Usually on the 3rd day, before the statue is carried out, a small refreshment will be served. Prayers are said on Sunday,Monday and moves on Tuesday,Wednesday(if there is no adoration)Thursday and moves again on Friday. There is usually no prayers on Saturday cause most people go for the sunset mass on Saturday. The feast day for this statue is on the 8th of December. It is usually celebrated will a mass and procession around the Portuguese Settlement,followed by a small fellowship at the hall in the square.
Ki yo sabe,isti nosiora ja encontra na tempu de Japang. Isti sinora kiora nubu ja enkontra sa clor,pretu. Senor John Felix ja encontra kum isti sinora na matu. Eli ta skunde di Japang, Eli lembra pau mas ja ola bong-bong,eli nosiaora de canseng sang. Kiora brigu ja kaba, tudu jenti na Bairu de Portuguese Ja falla, kere bota isti sinora a kaza,ungwa kaza gadra 3 dia. Dia di lantar Nosiora,nos logu da empoku kumiria kum bebe. Rezu nos faze na dia di Domingo,Segunda fera,sai de kaza,na tesa Fera. Kuartu fera,kuinta fera sai sestu fera. Sabdu ente rezo kausi tudu jenti logu bai misa. Kada anu,nos celebra Festa di Nosa siniora de consengsang na 8 di Decembro. Logu teng misa,,kaba misa nos logo lanta Nosiora bai rudia na bairu. Cuma tudu Festa,sabe setu logu teng kumiria kum bebe.

Vocabulary:


English/Malacca Portuguese(Kristang)


For the future tense,'logu' or 'kere' is used. for the time being,'logu' will be used.


Yo logu santa --I shall sit.


Yo logu impe-- I shall stand.


Yo logu anda--I shall walk.


Yo logu kure--I shall run.


Yo logu kumi--I shall eat.


Yo logu bebe--I shall drink.


Yo logu santa na kadeira--I shall sit on the chair.


Yo logu impe na rua--I shall stand by the road side. 

The old Portuguese Settlement. Bairu di Portuges di Malaca na akeli tempu.

This picture was probably taken in the early 70's. This the view of Cryton road from Canossa convent. Isti pintura ja toma na anu satenta. Isti rua Cryton. Pintura ja toma na skola Canossa. 

Most of the people of the settlement were mainly fishermen. Akeli tempu,mas tantu jenti na Bairo di Portuges, pescador.

The butterfly net today.This is the butterfly net that they use for to catch prawns or shrimps. Langiang nos sibri agora. Is. Sempre sibri para  peska gragok kum kambrang.

The butterfly net used in the 70's.It is of no difference then the butterfly nets that is being used today. Langiang ki nos ja sibri na anu sasenta.Ente difrenti di langiang ki nos ta sibri agora.

This is a picture of the early 70's dance troupe. This dance is during the feast of Sts  Peter and Paul. This is how the stage used to be hand made by our local carpenter. Isti pintura Festa De San Pedro kum San Juan. Nos sa jenti ja faze sa shradu.


The sentences below are in the past tense.

1. I sat.-   Yo ja santa.
2. I stood.-  Yo ja impe.
3. I walked.-  Yo ja anda
4. I ran.-   Yo ja kure.
5. I ate.-   Yo ja kumi.
6. I drank.-   Yo ja bebe.
7. I sat on a chair.-   Yo ja santa na kadeira.
8. I stood on the road.-   Yo ja impe na rua.
9. I stood in the middle of the road.-   Yo ja impe na miu di rua.
10. I drank a glass of cold water.-  Yo ja bebe ungwa glass di ago friu.
11. I ate rice today.-   Yo ja kumi aros ozin dia.
12. I ran slowly.-   Yo ja kure bagar.
13. I walked fast.   Yo ja anda prestadu.

local Portuguese cuisine.Kumiria di Portuges di Malaca.Cozinha de Portuges De Malaca.

Pineapple and prawns curry. Kari nanas kum kambrang. Ananas caril  com gamba.

Cucumber salad.Sambal pipinu kum deng raya. Pepino com peixe  seco salgado.

This dish is called 'Molio'. and its cooked with coconut milk,brinjal  with fish ball or fresh prawns. Molio. E 'Molio',cuzinha peixe,com leite de coco.

This a unique dish which is only cooked by the baba,nyonya and the Portuguese Of Malacca, it's famously known as Curry Keluak. Made of a special fruit found in Indonesia ,Sabah and Sarawak.Is usually cooked with pork,chicken or fish  'Kari Kluak', kuze kum porku,galinya,kum peisi malong,peisi sembilang. E caril 'keluak',cuzinha com carne de porco,carne de frango,piexe. Keluak,um fruto de Indonesia,Sabah com Sarawak...   

This is the seashell curry,cooked with semi riped papaya and coconut milk. Bredu Papaya kum siput cupak ku.  Papaya com um marisco,cuzinha com leite de coco. 

NATAL-CHRISTMAS

First,I would like to apologize for not adding new post into my blog for the past month. It's just that I've been busy with Christmas.

Christmas is known as 'Natal"among us in the Portuguese Settlement. It is celebrated on an elaborated scale with no efforts spared to make it a grand day. The hustle and bustle of the preparation usually commence one month before the Festival,the day after All Souls Day.Carols can be heard on the morning of November 3rd.Both parents and children actively engaged in cleaning and painting the house. Caroling and Nativity play practices will begin as well. Cakes and other delicacies are made.New attire,curtains and furnitures are bought or made. Mid December, Carolers will begin caroling from one resident to another,spreading the Christmas cheer.

By Christmas eve,all is set to welcome the birth of Baby Jesus. For that is the main reason we celebrate Christmas. Families welcome Christmas by participating the mid-night mass. After mass,it is tradition for the children to wish their parents'Bong Natal.' This is done by kissing the hands or chicks of the parents,always begining with the oldest. Then the family will sit down for Christmas supper. After supper, little children will open their presents.

On Christmas day, houses will be open for people to convey their greetings.Food and drinks are served. When children comes, it is a tradition to give some money as gifts to them.

In days gone by, a 'boboi' or swing wasswung from a big tree during the season of Advent. the old ladies of the community wake up early to each morning to sing the 'Nina boboi" and carols,as they swing along. This was their way of getting into the Christmas spirit. There is also another Portuguese song that is sung by old folks called the 'Pasturinho"(The Sheppard).The singing of these songs bring back memories of past Christmases. It was the belief of the old that Christmas is incomplete if the'Nina Boboi" is not heard.

Maszianti,yeo kere pidi pedromi,kauzu ja ungwa mis yeo nungka skribe na blog. Muito tantu sibrisu antu de Natal.


Nos na Malaca fala Natal.Kiora ja kaba benze koba,tres de Novembro,nos podi ubi kantiga de Natal. Mai pai kum keriansa logo pinta casa kum faze limpu casa. Keriasa logo bai prende kanta kantiga de Natal. Mai logo fase bolo koku,tar,sesagung acar chili mas tantu kumiria...


Na pamiang di anoiti di Natal, nos logo bai ola koba di nos sa jirisang keng ja bai di nos sa mundu.
Anoiti di Natal nos tudu logo bai misa di gresa st.Peter. kaba misa, nos na casa, logo da mang maszianti kum jenti idadi. kaba da mang, nos logo santa kumi kumiria para Natal.Pai,galinya asadu,kari debal,acar chili kum agar-agar. kaba kumi, keriansa logo abri sa ardansa ki eliotu komfia Santa Clause ja da. 


Pamiang di Natal,mai logo igri sedu kuze mas kzri debal,kari seku, sebak, chap chai,stew para da jenti kumi. Nos logo abri porta 10 oras pamiang para jenti beng abiza kum nos. 

Gostaria de pedir desculpas por não ter adicionado novos post's no blog o mês passado mas estive muito atarefada a preparar o Natal.

O Natal é conhecido como "Natal", entre nós, no Bairro Português sendo comemorado como um  grande dia. A azáfama da preparação geralmente começa um mês antes, no dia seguinte ao dia de Todas as Almas.

As cantigas de Natal podem ser ouvidas na manhã do dia 3 de Novembro. Tanto pais como filhos participam activamente na limpeza das suas casas. Tanto os ensaios das peças de teatro de Natal, como das cantigas começam também nessa altura . Bolos e outras iguarias são feitos. Novo vestuário, cortinas e móveis são comprados ou feitos. 

A meio de Dezembro, as crianças começam a cantar de casa em casa, espalhando a alegria do Natal. 

Na véspera de Natal, tudo está pronto para receber o nascimento do Menino Jesus. Essa é a principal razão para celebrar o Natal. As Famílias dão as boas-vindas ao Natal indo à missa da meia-noite. Após a missa, é tradição que as crianças desejem aos seus pais "Bong Natal", acompanhado com um beijo nas mãos ou na cara dos pais, começamdo sempre pelo mais velho. Depois a família prepara-se para o jantar de Natal. Depois do jantar, as crianças vão abrir os seus presentes. 

No dia de Natal, os residentes do Bairro Português abrem as portas das suas casa para que as pessoas as possam felicitar e desejar um "Bong Natal" . Comida e bebidas são servidas. Quando as crianças chegam, é tradição dar algum dinheiro como presente.

Em tempos idos, um 'boboi' ou swing oscilou de uma grande árvore durante o tempo do Advento. As velhas senhoras da comunidade acordavam cedo todas as manhãs para cantar a 'Nina Boboi" e canções de natal, como swing longo. 

Esta era uma forma de entrar no espírito natalicio. Há também outra canção Portuguesa que é cantada pelos mais velhos chamada "Pasturinho" (O Sheppard).

O canto dessas canções trazem de volta memórias de Natais passados. É na crença dos antigos que o Natal é incompleto se "Nina Boboi" não é ouvida.

Just to show this picture.

This picture shows,Mr.Noel Felix and Aunty Rozil doing the 'mata kantiga'.
Na isti pintura Senor Noel Felix kum Senora Rozil,ta kanta 'Mata kantiga'.