Last Saturday our family came to my sister's house to celebrate her baby shower. She decided to do it in Batak tradition, following her husband's ethnic. So my mom had to prepare an ulos (Batak's handwoven fabric that literally means 'blanket') and cook fish to visit her pregnant daughter.
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| Our family, from the expecting mother's side |
For a couple's first pregnancy, the ulos given is Ragi Hidup, which literally means 'pattern of life'. The ulos is (supposed to be) made in group, by the pregnant woman's mother by the time she receives the news that her daughter is expecting. On the seventh month pregnancy, the mother and family brings the ulos to her daughter to celebrate and pray for the safety of childbirth.
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| The 'mangupa tondi' ceremony |
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| Mom covering the expecting parents with ulos |
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| Mom giving the fish with some advice |
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| The couple give back pork in return of the fish to celebrate the visit |
After the small ceremony, we had lunch as the host had prepared pork to welcome and feast the guests. Some of Clemy's and Maruli's friends come and the party became merrier.
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| Grandmothers cut the cake to reveal.. Is it Ucok or Butet? |
After lunch, the expecting parents revealed the baby gender for us by the cake. Both grandmothers cut the cake and voila! Inside the cute cake, we saw pink candies as a symbol of baby girl. So we're officially expecting a Butet (Ucok is a Batak calling for a son, Butet is for a daughter.)
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| Pink candies mean baby girl! |
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| Singing the song for unborn little one |
Now that we know we are expecting a Butet, Clemy and Maruli sang a Batak song 'Boru Panggoaran', a song of prayers and hopes for first daughter to succeed in life despite all of the obstacles. And as Clemy's and Maruli's friends already gathered, each of us took turns to give our hopes, prayers and advice for both the parents and unborn child.
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| Cousins giving their hopes and prayers |
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| Oma is excited to welcome her first great granddaughter! |
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| My Mom gives a bunch of advice for the new parents |
I think this is a beautiful tradition to keep, since our family never had such thing before. This way, we value the norms and traditions more, especially in this era where people tend to be ignorant. It was an honour that I could participate in such event, because--simple as it may seem--it could really enhance our love to each other, bond the ties of hospitality between family, and learn how to raise children from each other.
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| With Clemy's friends |
Congratulations to the happy parents Clemency and Maruli Panggabean. We are excited to welcome our Butet in December!
