Drama: The little Nyonya (a story about Baba and Nyonya lifestyle and cultures)
Baba and Nyonya has their own
unique life style. Even though there are influence by Malay culture but there
are still persistence in Chinese culture or I can say more perseverance to Chinese
culture and traditions. Malacca Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum owner Chan Kim Lay,
84, is the fourth generation of his family.
He stated that “Although we have
been influenced by Malays in terms of food culture, our daily rituals and
customs are derived from Chinese traditions. For example, we kneel to greet the
elders during Chinese New Year but most of the Chinese do not do so. Such
ritual is in fact originated from Chinese traditions."
Other than that, there are also stresses
on ancestor worship. Chan said Babas and Nyonyas attach great importance to
respect for ancestors.
“We worship our ancestors’ every
day. Everyone must pay respect to the ancestors at the ancestral room, unless
they are abroad,” he said.
He continued: “In addition, many
Baba Nyonya got married with local Chinese and as they are having different
family backgrounds and lifestyles, lesser and lesser Baba Nyonya customs are
being transmitted.”
Every culture has their own taboos.
These are few of taboos in Baba and Nyonya culture:
- Time was an important factor to the Nyonya. Certain religious rites must he performed within the appointed time or hour otherwise chiong might occur. Time for prayers, time to fetch the bride accompanied by its numerous rituals and time for the hearse to start moving and time for burial were predetermined by the priest performing the funeral rites.
- If given a knife or any sharp instrument by a friend, or relative, a small red packet (ang pau) must be given in return as a gesture of goodwill so that their friendship might not be severed by the knife. Similarly if given a plant, the gift should be reciprocated by an ang pau.. Good luck or wealth was also attached to the Adenium flower or foo koo hua.
- If visitors entered by the front door, they must depart by the same door, otherwise the host's daughter might end up a spinster!
- At death, all mirrors and other reflecting surfaces were covered or concealed while all household deities were covered with red paper. Superstition and fear had it that the ghost of the deceased might catch the soul of the living relative to accompany it to the underworld
- Pat kua boards or octagonal mirrors surrounded by the eight trig rams for extra protection were hung above main door-ways. It was believed that evil spirits, approaching with intent to harm, would see themselves reflected in all their hideousness, got so frightened by their own reflection that they scooted off without causing any mischief. This old-fashioned practice prevails to this day.
- Many a superstitious Nyonya would refuse to have a group photograph taken of her and two others for fear that the one in the centre would be the first to die. It is said that one grandma, upon seeing her grandchild placed in the centre in a group photo, not only gave the child's parents a lecture but unhesitatingly removed the child with a snip of her scissors
- While the Nyonya generally favoured things in identical pairs such as lanterns, oil lamps, candle stands, vases etc. the mention of the number 4 (see) which has the same sound as ‘death’ is discretely avoided.
- It was taboo for children to point at the full moon, for which the feared punishment was a cut around the ear by the Moon Goddess
- Positioning oneself at the corner of the dining table was considered taboo, it was as if a sharp knife was pointed at the person seated there
- Cutting one's finger nails, toe nails or hair at night was considered taboo; it seemed that ghosts would pick them up and haunt the owner.
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