Contrary
to popular belief, contemporary ethnic weddings are not simpler
than their Christian counterparts: they’re just as tedious,
as expensive, and as momentous, if not even more.
Take, for
instance, the Bontoc or Igorot wedding rituals, which usually
spans several days. It starts with the delivery of the faratong
(black beans) from the girl to the bachelor signifying the
bride’s intentions to marry.
A
Bontoc couple is shown in an 1880 engraving.
About
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are also available at the Photo Library
of the Filipinas Heritage Library.
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punishable by law.
Afterwards, the bride’s family sends out what
is known as the khakhu (salted pork) to the
groom’s family. This is countered by the sending
of sapa (glutinous rice). These food items
are distributed to their respective family members,
including their relatives.
An important rite called insukatan nan makan (exchange
of food) follows. Here, one of the groom’s parents,
after receiving an invitation, must go to the bride’s
house and have breakfast with them. Later, the groom’s
parents also invite a bride’s parent for a similar
meal.
The next step is the farey. The bride and a kaulog
(girlfriend) will visit the house of the groom. This
is when they ‘start entering each other’s
houses’. They will have to leave immediately
also, but they will be invited again on the following
morning for breakfast. This is the start of the tongor
(to align).
The
next day, the bride’s parents, bearing rice
and salted meat, will go to the groom’s house
for the kamat (to sew tight). A kaulug of
the bride and the groom’s best friend is likewise
invited. The evening will be the start of the karang
or the main marriage ritual. This is when the bride
and groom are finally declared as a couple to the
whole community.
The following morning is the putut (to half). Here,
only the
immediate
relatives are invited for breakfast, signifying theend of
the ritual. Two days after the putut, the couple can finally
live as husband and wife, but may not sleep together for the
next five days, known as the atufang period.
The
atufang serves to validate the marriage. The groom
is instructed to bathe in a spring, taking note of
every detail that comes his way, such as the characters
he meets, weather changes, among others. Should anything
peculiar occur, he must make his way to the mountain
to cut some wood. The bride, on the other hand, is
sent off to weed in the fields.
Any untoward incidents serve as warnings that the
new couple must postpone their living together or
mangmang. The final stage of the atufang involves
covering smoldering charcoals with rice husks overnight.
The marriage is considered null and void if the fire
goes out the morning after.
The
final step is the manmanok where the bride’s
parents invite the groom and his parents and declare
that the groom could officially sleep with the bride.
This signifies the end of the marriage ritual for
most Igorots. An optional lopis (a bigger
marriage feast) could be done should the couple’s
finances allow.
