On to New Beginnings

We will soon be on our way to join our son as the date of his wedding draws near.

In preparation for the big day, invitation cards have been sent out.


We will be bringing along with us a traditional basket which will hold the gifts for our future daughter-in-law as per tradition.

The discussion over the gifts took place a while back when we went for the food tasting at the venue where the wedding dinner will be held. Our son's future in-laws' requests were simple and they didn't want to be tradition-bound. Nevertheless, I felt that at least the basics should be adhered to.

So there will be a red piece of cloth plus two red rosettes which will be placed over their doorway to indicate that a marriage will take place and that their daughter is leaving their home. There is a certain way of folding the red cloth which will indicate this. The groom's home will have a similar red piece on his door too to indicate that he is bringing back a bride.


The basket will contain the dowry which is an auspicious sum of money put into a red envelope printed with the word "Double Happiness" and also jewellery for the bride.


There will also be bridal biscuits but the bride's parents have said that there is no need for that as not many people eat these traditional biscuits anymore. However we will include a cake. There are so many delicious cakes available in the bakeries today. Instead of liquor we will give fruits.

Our younger daughter and her brother, the bridegroom, will be our emissaries presenting the gifts to my future daughter-in-law's parents.

There is also a token number of dinner tables to be given to the bride's side for the wedding. They have agreed to accept the eight tables. Eight is an auspicious number.

This is what will take place during the next few days.

Once the wedding is solemnised in church, followed by a light lunch for the invitees, the wedding dinner will be held that evening. There will be a tea ceremony too during which the young couple are introduced to the members of the family.

It is an occasion that we are looking forward to very much.