| THAYILLUM FAMILY |
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| This site is managed by Georgi Thengumthottathil Abraham |
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| Traditions |
| Although they embraced Christianity, the Syrian Christians retained many of their Hindu customs and till date their marriage rituals follow many of the old Hindu traditions.
A typical Syrian Christian wedding is an elaborate affair and is usually arranged by the elders. The bride's family makes the proposal to the groom's family. Some common surnames: Chandy, George, Eappen, Cherian, Verghese, Thomas, Kurien, Abraham, Mathan, Jacob, Zacariah, Oomen. List of ceremonies 'Kalyanamaurappu' literally translated means 'arranging a marriage' between the girl and the boy. Once the groom's family accepts the proposal, male members from the groom's family visit the bride's family to agree on a wedding date. Both families take a decision at this time, that the girl will come to into the boy's family along with 'streedhanam' (wealth of a woman), which can include money, clothes, jewellery or property. Henceforth she will not lay any more claims on her father's wealth. Once an agreement is reached, the two eldest male members from each family hold hands in a symbolic clasp. An 'angavastram' (white cloth) covering their hands, seals the contract. The engagement is announced at the respective churches for three consecutive Sundays in the presence of the community and the families of the bride and groom. On the third Sunday, the bride and groom go to their respective churches for confession and to partake in the Holy Communion. Madhuramvekal: Pre-wedding ceremony. This ceremony is held in the respective homes of the bride and the groom, a day prior to the church wedding. Barring a few differences, the ceremonies are similar. The groom sits facing the east, while a barber cuts his hair and shaves off his beard. The groom's eldest sister or female cousin anoints his hair with oil amidst a lot of bantering and teasing. The groom's brother-in-law then escorts the groom for his regular bath ensuring that he does this from the westerly direction. The groom returns from the easterly direction, sheltered under an umbrella, held by the brother-in-law. On his arrival all the ladies clap their hands and yodel! This is called the 'korava', traditionally considered very auspicious throughout Kerala. In the bride's home, she is made to wear a simple sari and her brother's wife performs all the rituals of anointing her with oil and taking her for her bath in the exact same manner as was done for the groom. After her bath, the bride changes into a resplendent silk sari, wears traditional jewellery; adorns her hair with flowers and puts on a gold chain with a cross on it. After the 'korava' the bride and groom in their respective homes, heads covered, sit on a chair, which has been covered with a white cloth and are blessed by the priest. A sweet called 'madhuram' (banana slices soaked in sweet Palmyra palm juice) is brought to be blessed by the priest. The blessing over, the sweet is fed to the bride and groom by the mother or grandmother. Mantra Kodi: Preparing the' taali’. The sari, which the groom will present to his bride in church the next morning, is called the 'mantra kodi'. The night before the church ceremony, strands of thread are drawn from this sari by the groom's sister and twisted to form a cord. On this cord, is tied the 'taali', a leaf shaped gold pendant with a cross, inscribed on it. Church ceremony: Holy Matrimony On the day of the wedding the priest visits each home separately and blesses the bride and the groom. The groom carries the sari for the bride, the 'taali' and two wedding bands. After the blessing, the bride and groom step out of their homes, preceded by a young girl holding a 'diya' or lamp. In the church the priest officiates and after the sermon the couple exchange wedding bands. All through the ceremony the bride's sister stands behind her. Vows are exchanged and the groom ties the 'taali' (symbol of a married woman) on the bride's neck. During the tying of the 'taali' the bride's sister is replaced by the groom's sister. The 'mantra kodi' is placed on the bride's head by the priest and blessed. The couple joins hands and is announced man and wife. Reception: Post wedding celebrations. The reception is a modern day concept, borrowed from the West and is basically a celebration of the wedding. The families involved host a grand dinner and the newly wed couple is introduced to the relatives and guests |
