MYTHS IN SUNDANESE MARRIAGE TRADITION
MYTHS IN SUNDANESE MARRIAGE TRADITION
By Sri Hidayati
There are many myths in the Sundanese community. Such myths are not solely of Sundanese origin, but are also influenced by other cultures or religions such as Islam. In regards to the marriage tradition, the myth usually linked with the time to conduct marriage ceremonial, and its ritual.
The first myth in Sundanese marriage tradition is on deciding time to conduct marriage ceremony. In Sunda, it is prohibited (pamali) to get married in the month of Safar/shafar. Although, Sundanese do not believe in astrology, they believe that conducting marriage in this month (safar) will cause some misfortune for the married couple in the future. For example, the marriage will not last for ever, and the couple will have difficulty in having children. The month of safar that is taken from Islamic calender which is based on the lunar calendar is believed to have bad influence and bad luck. Sundanese believe that in the month of Safar any disease and disaster will emerge. This myth is influenced by Arabic culture beliefs regarding shafar. In the Arabic tradition before Islam, the month of Shafar was considered the month for conducting wars. In this month, the Arabic community seldom to did activities and trade due to the wars between Arabic tribes. With the coming of Islam in Sundanese regions, the same myth was accepted by the community.
In addition, the prohibition of holding marriage in the month of safar is strengthen by the sundanese traditional opinion about the month of dog marriage which usually happens in the month of safar. In some Sundanese area, especially the land near by forest where the wild dog remains live, it is common to hear dogs cry/howl in the safar month because in this month wild dogs are having sexual activities. Therefore the Sundanese are reluctant to get married in the month of safar because they do not want to resemble dogs. Eventhough, the current sundanese society is growing to become more modern, in some parts of the Sundanese community these myths remain strong until now.
Another myth in Sundanese marriage tradition is the use of cooked and ready to eat chicken/cockorel as part of the marriage ritual. The intact cooked-chicken is served to the newly married couple, and each of them will hold each part of that cooked-chicken such as chicken’s foot, and pull that cooked-chicken apart. Whoever get a bigger part is believed to have good luck and economically better than his/her spouse in the future. Further, it is also believed that those who get the bigger part will dominate the marriage.
The use of chicken or cockorel as a symbol in sundanese marriage tradition is based on the Sundanese belief that this animal possesses such qualities as arrogance, strength, bravery, and it is further a symbol of fertility. Cockorel is also identical with the symbol of the sun strength because this fowl is believed as sun guardian that welcoming sun in the early morning and saying goodbye in the evening.
Sources:
1.http://kanguwes.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/mitos-safar-di-masyarakat-sunda/ (27 March 2008)
2.http://www.pikiran-rakyat.com/index.php?mib=beritadetail&id=17715 (27 March 2008)
