Events and Activities by the Baba Nyonyas

Like other ethnic groups, Baba and Nyonya also have their events and activities. For example weddings, birthdays and prayer days.

The picture above shows the traditional costume for the Baba and Nyonya marriage. The traditional gown and suit  consist of many layers. The costume is very colourful and the details on the costumes are very fine. The patterns and designs are all hand made embroidery which is special and unique in its way.

During the olden days, the bride and groom would be seated in the "kio" which is a carriage worked by men. The only way to move around is by having servants carrying the carriage. However as times pass, the babas and nyonyas now use cars to travel from one place to another.

The Babas and Nyonyas also carry out events like prayers to the ancestors every year. The even is carried out on the same day as the Chinese's all souls day also known as "cheng beng".

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58435770@N02/5512947936/in/pool-bibibaba

The food prepared are plated and served as an offering during the prayer in blue antique porcelain plates and bowls. This is because the colour blue is to represent the dead.

Birthdays are also one of the special occasions carried out by the Baba and Nyonya. When an elderly reaches an age of 70 or 80 they normally have a grand birthday dinner. The event is normally called "tua seh jit" which means a big birthday.

  The guests that attends the birthday are also normally dressed up in the traditional wear, the kebaya. During events like this, there would normally be dancing and singing throughout the dinner. Babas and Nyonyas love line dancing.