My Trip to the Peranakan Museum

What is a Peranakan?

• Peranakan refers to people with mixed ethnic origins. This is a Malay word and it means ‘child born of’.

• There are three different types of Peranakans.

Peranakan Chinese Jawi Peranakan Chitty Melaka

Language Spoken• The official language is Baba Malay. It contains many

words from the Chinese Hokkien dialect.

• Some important words to know:– Baba is the term used for a male Peranakan– Nyonya is the term used for a female Peranakan– Bibik is the term used for an older female

Peranakan

Popular Past Times• Peranakan children loves to play

Chongkak. It has 14-16 holes and are usually played with crowlie shells or marbles.

• Nyonyas and Bibiks love to play Cherki. It is a card game which consists of many Hokkien and Baba Malay words. It has 60 cards with 3 suits and 9 numerals for each suit.

Popular Past Times

• Makan sireh was popular among the Nyonyas and Bibiks.

• Sireh contained tobacco wrapped in the sireh leaves and were chewed on.

The Sarong Kebaya

• The design of the Sarong Kebaya worn by the Nyonyas and Bibiks are influenced by many factors.

• They are influenced by the Chinese, the Dutch and the Malay cultures.

• The prawn represents the Chinese influence, the Red Riding Hood represents the Dutch influence.

Peranakan Food

• Peranakan food is a fusion of different influences. It is mainly chinese cuisine modified with local (Malay, Thai, Indian) influences.

• Ayam Buah Keluak is one of the signature dish in Peranakan cuisine. Other signatures dishes include Udang Goreng Assam (fried prawns marinated in tamarind), Sambal Timun (spicy cucumber salad).

Peranakan Religion & Practices

• The Peranakan religion and practices are also influenced by many cultures.

• Most of the Chinese Peranakans follow the religion and practices of their ancestors from China.

• Some Peranakans converted to Catholicism but the altar had Chinese influences.

• They use a mixture of Baba Malay and Hokkien to pray.

WEDDING PROCESSION OF THE PERANAKANS

• The wedding procession takes place on the third day of the “Twelve Day Peranakan Wedding”.

• It is where the Bride and Bridegroom will walk a symbolic distance from the bride house to the bridegroom’s.

• The wedding procession was to convey the idea of “Raja Sehari”, a local practice that the Peranakans adopted for their wedding. The bridegroom and the bride were considered royalty for a day.

• It was complete with retainers, musicians, relatives and friends. Ceremonial umbrellas were used to shield the couple from the sun and add to the grandeur of the procession.

WEDDING PROCESSION OF THE PERANAKANS

References:

1) http://www.peranakanmuseum.sg2) http://www.peranakanlife.com/gallery/pictures3) http://peranakan.hostoi.com