Ayroor Thayillam Family
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The Christians who were converted from 52 A.D. onwards from different communities of
Kerala, grouped under various denominations.
These denominations came into existence by the work of the foreign missionaries which
resulted in the establishment of parallel churches following different religious practices.
However, the people followed the practices and customs of their own communities from
where they were converted, but they gave respect to Jesus and the Cross in the place of
Hindu gods, goddesses and deities. For instance, traces of Hindu culture can be noted in
some of their customs. A a new - born baby is fed with powdered gold mixed with honey
after its birth. A child beginning to learn the alphabet is made to write the first letter with its
finger in raw husked nice. Besides their own rituals and customs, they are also influenced
by the customs and practices of the missionaries.
During early days child marriages were prevalent among the Syrian Christians. They made
proposals from the girl's side through the relatives, brokers or friends. Whereas in other
communities it is done from the boy’s side. Then they made formal visits and talks took
place between the families who fixed the final formal decision which was called or urapeeru
or kalyaanam urappikkal ‘marriage settlement’. It is also known as kalyaana urappeeru,
pennukettunischayam, and nischayippu. Marthoma Syrians named this rituals as
vaakkukotukkal, and Catholics in Ernakulam called it achaarakalyaanam. This took place
in the boy’s house where only the male members attented from the girl’s party. But the
reverse style is found among Marthoma Syrians and Syro-Malabaris in Trichur.
Betrothal (ottukalyaanam) is a customary practice. Earlier, parents of both parties met and
exchanged letters of confirmation and promise on a piece of Candjan leaf (Chaarthu). This
ritual is called kuriyezhuthi maaral. The promise which is given in the ottukalyaanam could
not be violated, without the consent of both the parties.
Dowry system is prevalent among the Christians. The Syrian Christians observed certain
rigid customary practices in the mode of giving dowry. It is wrapped in white cloth and
offered on a plantain leaf which is replaced in the young generation by the informal mode
of handing over the amount in the form of draft or currency notes.
Proclamation of banns is one of the unique features of Christian marriages. It is done only
after conducting the important ritual manassammatham of both the persons.
Kerala, grouped under various denominations.
These denominations came into existence by the work of the foreign missionaries which
resulted in the establishment of parallel churches following different religious practices.
However, the people followed the practices and customs of their own communities from
where they were converted, but they gave respect to Jesus and the Cross in the place of
Hindu gods, goddesses and deities. For instance, traces of Hindu culture can be noted in
some of their customs. A a new - born baby is fed with powdered gold mixed with honey
after its birth. A child beginning to learn the alphabet is made to write the first letter with its
finger in raw husked nice. Besides their own rituals and customs, they are also influenced
by the customs and practices of the missionaries.
During early days child marriages were prevalent among the Syrian Christians. They made
proposals from the girl's side through the relatives, brokers or friends. Whereas in other
communities it is done from the boy’s side. Then they made formal visits and talks took
place between the families who fixed the final formal decision which was called or urapeeru
or kalyaanam urappikkal ‘marriage settlement’. It is also known as kalyaana urappeeru,
pennukettunischayam, and nischayippu. Marthoma Syrians named this rituals as
vaakkukotukkal, and Catholics in Ernakulam called it achaarakalyaanam. This took place
in the boy’s house where only the male members attented from the girl’s party. But the
reverse style is found among Marthoma Syrians and Syro-Malabaris in Trichur.
Betrothal (ottukalyaanam) is a customary practice. Earlier, parents of both parties met and
exchanged letters of confirmation and promise on a piece of Candjan leaf (Chaarthu). This
ritual is called kuriyezhuthi maaral. The promise which is given in the ottukalyaanam could
not be violated, without the consent of both the parties.
Dowry system is prevalent among the Christians. The Syrian Christians observed certain
rigid customary practices in the mode of giving dowry. It is wrapped in white cloth and
offered on a plantain leaf which is replaced in the young generation by the informal mode
of handing over the amount in the form of draft or currency notes.
Proclamation of banns is one of the unique features of Christian marriages. It is done only
after conducting the important ritual manassammatham of both the persons.
| Syrian Christian Traditions |
