Penang – Exchange

Weddings involve the bride and groom and their families in a complex series of exchanges of gifts. Jewellery and items of clothing are exchanged, as well as objects which have symbolic value. Some exchanges involve objects of adornment for the bride and groom; others may be items for the new household which will be established. Gifts of money may be intended to reimburse some of the costs of a wedding. Aside from exchanges between the bride and groom and their parents, small gifts or mementoes may be given to the guests at weddings, and the guests themselves may give the newly-weds more substantial gifts including money.

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MALAY WEDDING GIFTS<p> At Malay weddings, gifts from the bride’s side to the groom’s, and vice versa, are placed on display and are elaborately decorated. Odd numbers of gifts are preferred, and those from the bride’s side should outnumber the groom’s – but the latter are higher in value.</p>
BUNGA TELUR<p> Traditionally and today, Malay wedding guests would give money to their hosts, and be given a bunga telur (literally, ‘flower egg’), a decorated hard boiled egg, a symbol of fertility, when they leave.</p>
COLLECTION OF ‘DOOR GIFTS’ <p>(Donated by Dato’ Dr Hjh Wazir Jahan Begum Karim) Nowadays, wedding guests are often given a ‘door gift’ when they leave. These come in many varieties from the simplest to the more elaborate.</p>

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