i was spring cleaning my iphoto pics and came across these from three years ago. i just remembered i actually had a draft blog post which i had started but never completed!
these are pics of ilaika's "potong jambul" ceremony*. the theme was anything baby and the colours were yellow, orange and pink...
* in the malay culture, the "potong jambul" ceremony is traditionally a ceremony whereby a baby's head is shaven to "cleanse" him or her. nowadays the ceremony, held forty days after the baby is born, seems to signify a thanksgiving ritual and a baby's welcome. literally translated, "potong jambul" means "cut hair" which is exactly what the ceremony is about. in my family, the ritual also includes giving the baby its first taste of "sweet" and "salty" and a "merenjis" ceremony (perhaps a malay version of the baptism ceremony) as well as placing the baby's feet on a tray of sand somewhat similar to marking its footprint in the sand...possibly to signify its first step? am afraid i am no expert in the malay culture so perhaps i should find out more from my mum...!
- the venue -
- the lovely teak cradle, a present from my mum -
- the "equipment" -
top row from L to R :
1. the "equipment" laid out on the table; 2. a decorated coconut to place the hair once it's cut.
bottom row from L to R :
1. a tray of sand for the "footprint" part of the ceremony; 2. mini scissors to cut the baby's hair.
- the "equipment" -
top row from L to R :
1. the sweet & salty "porridge"; 2. the leaf to "merenjis" the baby.
bottom row from L to R :
1. the "bunga rampai" for "merenjis" - it's a malay-style potpourri made of thinly sliced fresh leaves, fresh rose petals and rose scented fragrance; 2. silver cradles, the favours for the vip guests.
- the decor & gifts -
top row from L to R :
1. baby mittens sewn with ribbons and buttons, which we used to place the "bunga rampai" as favours for the guests; 2. mini pink cradles for the table decor.
bottom row from L to R :
1. more table decor; 2. pink balloons were placed all around the patio.
- sweet stuff -
top row from L to R :
1. pink, yellow & orange ribbons for the baskets that held the cupcake favours; 2. mini cupcakes with frosting to match the colour theme.
bottom row from L to R :
1. jelly in shapes of baby things; 2. cupcakes topped with frosting and fondant in shapes of safety pins, rocking horses, rattles and bibs.
oh and here's a pic of us as proud first-time parents...
time sure flies...a part of me still can't believe that it's been three years since i first held ilaika in my arms...and looking at her now, it's hard to believe that she was ever that tiny!
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