My Weight in Pigs

I haven't posted up any wedding pictures on this blog as I will be having another one in Melbourne with the same dresses so I don't want to spoil the surprise for the people here. However, what I can do is post up a similarly important event which took place in M'sia - giving of the dowry! In chinese, the ceremony is called 'goh tai lai'. This is where the groom's family presents sets of 'grand gifts' to the bride's family. The gifts consists of double sets of everything (one of which is expected to be returned) - fruits, dried seafood, coconut, wine or liquor, money, chinese wedding cakes etc. These were more or less the items involved in my gtl as well, except the coconuts.

We also did the 'three day homecoming' at the same time where traditionally when the bride returns home to her parent's house after 3 days in her new home, the groom would provide a whole roast pig and some gifts to the family (presumably in appreciation of the new bride). To a lover of roast pork like me, the pig was a dream come true! We gave all the best parts away to family, neighbours and friends, but still had loads to devour. Till the day we left for Melbourne, there were still pork bits and pieces stashed away in our fridge, which had ran out of space so there were some in a neighbour's freezer as well!

I wonder if there are no one who have thought about giving something of the same value other than a roast pig? How about giving something that the bride really likes? As much as I like roast pork, I had to face the fact that not all parts of the pig is suitable for roasting. So how about a couple of whole cod fish? You can betcha there won't be any leftovers!

Butcher in action

The groom's family got to take back: a pair of pants, head and tail of the pig, and single set of the gifts they presented.