October 5, 2019
After the tea ceremony, twelve of us, six from the groom’s side, and six from the bride’s side, proceeded to the dining area for the eggs and noodles ritual.
There were two eggs and two Chinese dates in each bowl with boiled water and sugar.
Eggs are for fertility, Why two? Bride and groom, or twins?
Sa amin pag sinabing miswa, yung may sabaw. Pero eto guinisang miswa very similar to guinisang pansit bihon.
The noodles symbolize longevity. That’s why noodles or spaghetti are constants on birthdays.
The miswa was delicious. I almost finished mine because I was hungry. I didn’t eat breakfast.
Kuya Lito, Edgar (Edmund’s eldest brother), Mama Soling (Edmund’s mom), Dimple (Kuya Lito’s wife).
While we were eating miswa, my sister Aileen, assisted by the sisters of Derrick, put away the valuables laid out on the table, including the five sets of jewelry given by the parents of the groom to the bride-to-be. The five sets of gifts are part of the old tradition and it symbolizes the value given by the family of the groom to his bride.
Fresh flowers were distributed to the single ladies in the house. It’s a wish that someday they would be the next bride. That’s similar to the western tradition of throwing the bride’s bouquet into the air. It is believed that whoever catches the flowers would be the next bride.
