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Lantern
Lantern
Vol. 02 | Issue 08
Our
FAMILY
Traditions
Vol. 02 | Issue 08
JUNE, 2014
03
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
FAMILY
Traditions
to be handed down
(A guidelines for the Syro-Malabar Migrant Families)
COVER STORY
05
01 Marriage
06
COVER STORY
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
t
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b. Bridal Processions
The wedding processions
to the church and from the
church were ostentatious
and very important part of
the marriage ceremony.
For this occasion, the
Thomas Christians made
use of the high privileges
of using palanquin
(antoolam), elephants to
ride on (ambri), royal silk
umbrellas (muthukuda),
day lamps (pakalvilakku),
walking clothes (pvta),
traditional drums
(panjavdyam), shouts of
joy (natavili by men and
kurava by women), body
guards, fore-runners to
clear the way, carpets,
ornaments, slaves and
many others.
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
d. Wedding Ring (h
n
h
m
l
t
a
m
X
n
c
w
),
Garlanding, The Brides Bouquet
Among the Syrian Catholics, the exchange of rings was not technically
part of the wedding service, but at the betrothal. It is always a two-ring set
given to the bride and bridegroom by the priest after the blessing and the
couples exchange the rings placing them into each others finger. The
husband and wife wear the wedding ring throughout their life.
In India, where flower garlands have an important and traditional role in
every festival especially in wedding the couple wear a wedding garland.
At its inception, the bouquet formed part of the dcor worn by both the
bride and groom. It was considered as a symbol of happiness. Originally
bridal bouquets were made of herbs, which had magical and meaningful
definitions for the couple's future life. Ancient uses included herbs, not
flowers, in bouquets because they felt herbs -- especially garlic -- had the
power to cast off evil spirits. The flower girls carried sheaves of wheat a
symbol of growth, fertility and renewal. Later the flowers replaced herbs.
COVER STORY
07
f. Madhuram Vekkal
On the occasion of the marriage, traditionally madhuramvekkal was practiced
twice. The first ceremony is held in the respective homes of the bride and the
groom, a day prior to the church wedding. On the eve of marriage, in the
presence of relatives, neighbours and friends, the family celebrates the single
status of the person for the last day. The groom sits facing the east, while a barber
cuts his hair and shaves off his beard (Andhamchrtu). The grooms eldest sister
or female cousin anoints his hair with oil. The grooms brother-in-law then escorts
the groom for his regular bath holding an umbrella for himu On his arrival, all the
ladies clap their hands and cheer him. This is called the kurava, traditionally
considered very auspicious throughout Kerala.
In the brides home, the feet of the bride are anointed with henna by a female
cousin (mailanchiyidal). After her bath, the bride dresses up well and wears
traditional jewellery. The bride enters from the easterly direction, in an umbrella,
held by her uncle. After the kurava the bride and groom in their respective
homes, sit on a chair, which has been covered with a white cloth and are blessed
by the priest. A sweet called madhuram is brought and blessed. After the
blessing, the sweet is given to the bride and the groom in respective homes by
the mother, aunt or grandmother.
The second madhuramvekkal is done at the reception of the bride and groom
which is given to both of them in a very solemn way by the eldest person of the
family. He asks loudly thrice the permission of the community gathered if
madhuram can be given to the couple or not. The community expresses its joy in
doing so and madhuram is given to both of them. In certain areas, before
receiving madhuram, the bride and the groom wash their mouths with water and
receive it as something holy. This ceremony reminds that the life they begin
together should become sweet as the madhuram they accept.
08
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
09
10
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
04 House Blessings
St. Thomas Christians considered construction of
houses to be a holy ceremony. In the villages, the
houses are constructed facing the east or north,
with a cowshed, well, garden, vegetable farm
nearby. Some of the non-Christian practices were
adapted by St. Thomas Christians such as finding
the position for the house, for a well, for a stable
which was done by seeking the opinion of a
traditionally accepted experts in that field.
Once the construction of the house is over, it was
a practice to dedicate the house to the Lord,
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
05 Holy Week
and Family Traditions
11
a. Hosanna Sunday
Nalpathamvelli (40th Friday), Friday before the Hosanna Sunday used to be a reminder for the last ten days
of lent. The families started rigorous lent. The Saturday between the nalpathamvelli and hosanna was
specially celebrated with special delicacies such as kozhikotta and
pichampidi those in round and rectangle size. The gospel reading of
that day indicates that these delicacies are to remind the hospitality of
Martha and Mariam in the house of Lazarus. These were made and
shared with other families as well to foster unity and brotherhood of the
neighborhood. In some areas the tradition is to remind of the different
types of stones, taken by the soldiers to hurl at Jesus. On Hosanna
Sunday, the palm leaves were brought to home and each member used
to keep the leave in his room, a symbol of protection from evil.
b. Appam murickal on Moundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday (PesahaVyazham), as a part of the family celebration of the Passover Feast, a special
unleavened broad was made (Pesahaappam) which is also called inriappam. INRI (Iesus Nazraenus Rex Iudeorum)
appam is very much Biblical. It was patterned after the Jewish mode of celebration of the Passover in the family which
was continued in the St. Thomas Christian tradition taking the spirit of Exodus 12; 14-27. INRI appam represented the
bread used by Jesus during the Last Supper. Tender coconut leaves, blessed on
Hosana Sunday was used to make a small cross on the appam. The eldest
member of the family would lead the prayer, read the biblical passage, break this
bread with hands and distribute it with other members of the family from the eldest
member to the youngest. The bread is received in the hands with the respect akin
to receiving Holy Communion.
Together with this, a special drink was also prepared with rice flour, coconut milk,
and jaggery which represented the wine of the Last Supper. When elder
members of the family die, this appammurickal was not done for a year. This
bread and milk are not given to the non-Christians nor is it kept for the next day.
During the breaking of bread, puthenpna is read out.
12
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
06 Fasting and
Abstinence
The Thomas Christians had a rigorous discipline with regard to fasts and
abstinence. The foreign missionaries called the St. Thomas Christians as
the Church of those who fast (upavasikaludesabha). For any important
feast celebration, the faithful prepared themselves with disciplined
abstinence, fasting and prayer. According to tradition, the Syro-Malabar
Church had about 180 days of abstinence. The faithful abstained from
meat, fish, egg, milk, milk products, chewing of betel, smoking, alcohol,
conjugal relationship, etc. The days of abstinence are on all days of Lent
(49 days), period of Annunciation (24 days), all days of Moonnunombu (3
days), Ettunombu (7 days) and Pathinanjunombu (14 days) and previous
day of the transfiguration of our Lord. Such abstinence was observed also
on all Wednesdays and on all Fridays except the Friday/s between
Christmas and Denha and the Friday after Easter of the year.
All family members who have completed the age of fourteen and those
who enjoy normal health are obliged to observe fast and abstinence.
Fasting is obligatory on the first day of the Lent (vibhuthi -AshMonday) and
on Good Friday but also recommended on all Fridays in Lent. On days of
Fasting only one full meal may be taken. Having a very solemn vegetarian
lunch on the fasting day seems to be a wrong custom.
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
13
c. Special Devotion to
Holy Mary and
Vanakkamsam
(h
W
a
m
k
w
)
According to age-old oriental
tradition, Ettunombu was
observed in preparation for
the nativity of Mother of
God and pathinanjunombu
in preparation of the
Dormition (Assumption) of
the Holy Mary Mother of
God. In a recent origin, the
month of October is
especially dedicated for
praying Rosary and the
month of May is observed
for special devotion
(vanankkamasam) in honour
of Mother Mary. In the
month of March
vanakamasam of St. Joseph is
conducted whereas in the
month of June it is in honour
of Sacred Heart of Jesus.
p
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Oottunercha is an act of charity commonly performed by the families
especially on the feast of St. Joseph on 19th March. A poor family is
invited to the Christian families representing the Holy Family and they
are given one sumptuous meal. This poor family is respected like
honourable guests which is a sign of a great spirituality and prayer.
14
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
m
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Kanikka is the love offering placed in the box kept in the pilgrim
centre. This kanikka was given as money or kind by way of sacrifice
of the person. The collected kanikka was later used only for spiritual
purposes. And prasadam is an edible given to the devotees at the
pilgrim centre. When only one person from a family made the
thrthadanam, prasadam given from the centre was brought to the
family as a holy thing and was shared among the family members
and they believed that the merits of the pilgrimage is gained by the
other family members as well.
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
15
09 Family Prayers
a. Eeshomishihakku
sthudhiaayirikkatte
St. Thomas Christians while
meeting fellow Christians
especially the priests and the
religious, praised God sayimg,
Praise be to Jesus Christ.
Soon after the family prayer,
all the members greet the
almighty God facing the
family altar. And then the
younger ones greet the eldest
family member to the
youngest with this prayer.
This greeting prayer unites
the family members in love
and communion. This
greeting prayer has two parts:
The first greeting prayer of
Eeshomishihakkusthudhiyirikkatte is
responded with ippozhum
eppozhum sthudhiyirikkatte.
This was more often said to
the priests towards the end of
every prayer gatherings.
16
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
10 Family-Centred
Catechetical
Formation
The family is the cradle of
catechesis by which faith was
handed down from generation to
generation. The basic catechism
and prayers were taught by the
grandparents and parents in the
families. The Kathanars (priests)
who had their training from the
Malpans were the main catechists
among the St. Thomas Christians.
The Aashan Kalaries were also
centres for the catechetical
instruction for children. Here, the
children were taught the
fundamental prayers and
principles of faith, even by nonChristian Aashans.
11 Family Values
St. Thomas Christians lived in joint-families.
The father was the head of the family if the
grant father was absent. The parents and
elders (teachers, governors and spiritual
leaders) were respected highly and all were
very courteous towards the strangers and
foreigners. Showing respect to others is so
common that they are particular not to sit in
the presence of their parents, seniors, elder
brothers and superiors of any kind. All the
relatives of both father and mother were
respected and invited to be part of any
family functions and celebrations. It was
customary to invite all paternal and maternal
relatives for parish feasts, marriages, and
commemoration of the dead and other
functions. Any time of the day, the relatives
were welcome.
The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
COVER STORY
17
12 Family Traditions
for a stable Society
Questions to be discussed in the Family Unit meetings of the Month of June and July
1. From the family traditions given which are those traditions we follow strictly in our daily chores and which we do not follow at all?
2. Do you propose some practical methods to put into practice some of the extinct family traditions?
3. Does the observance of the family traditions contribute for the personal and family identity?
18
HOLY QURBANA - 22
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The Lantern
JUNE, 2014
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JUNE, 2014
HOLY QURBANA - 22
19
20
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JUNE, 2014
KIDS CORNER
08
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KIDS CORNER
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22
KIDS CORNER
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JUNE, 2014
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