Sunday, February 24, 2008

Mass Wedding in 100-year-old temple - Weekend Snapshot #12

花好月圆庆元宵
百年古庙结良缘


100 year-old Thian Hock Keng Temple

The last day, or 15th day, of Chinese New Year is Yuanxiao Jie. It is a festival that celebrates reunion and heritage with tang yuan (glutinous rice balls). It is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day. To promote Chinese culture, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan held a mass wedding ceremony on this day at 100 year-old Thian Hock Keng Temple.


The Hokkien clan association which runs the temple, wants to bring back mass wedding ceremonies after an absence of almost half a century. It is supported by the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports and Singapore Tourism Board. Telok Ayer Street was converted to a street festival ground.

From 1956 to 1960, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan held group wedding ceremonies at its temple, but stopped them after it became compulsory for couples to register their marriages.

A Mass Wedding Ceremony in 1960 organised by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan then.

The Hokkien Huay Kuan attracted 39 couples for this event, 6 newly-weds and 33 married couples who renewed their vows.


In the past, each couple paid S$30 to take part in the association's mass wedding events, now couples pay at least S$168.

Couples can expect a weekend hotel stay, a buffet reception for 20 guests and a travel voucher. They can also opt for a S$388 package which includes photography, costumes and make-up.


The ceremony commenced with the grand entrance of 39 brides' in trishaws!


Couples who are interested in the Mass Wedding Ceremony next year, can contact Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. I'm considering. Sponsors?? ..... hehe...


为了庆元宵,传承及推广华人传统文化,福建会馆与天福宫在正月十五元宵节(2008年2月21日)举办一系列的节庆活动。天福宫特别开放至晚上10时,直落亚逸街也张灯结彩,并于街旁设周边活动增添喜气,如传统手工艺品(捏泥人、剪纸、书法示范等)及小吃摊位(汤圆、麻薯、香炸虾枣、美香封肉、红烧扣肉、鱼鳔羹等)、赏花灯、猜灯谜、舞台表演等活动。

其中最具特色的活动是会馆首次在元宵节举办的“集体婚礼”。
活动主宾为社会发展、青年与体育部政务部长符喜泉女士。活动获社会发展、青年与体育部 - 社群传统文化津贴基金赞助及新加坡旅游局支持。

福建会馆想要把几乎绝迹半个世纪的“集体婚礼” 带回今日。从1956 年到1960 年, 新加坡福建会馆在它的寺庙举办了多场集体婚礼, 但在政府规定夫妇必须登记他们的婚姻之后,就停止了这项有意义的活动。

福建会馆今年举办的“集体婚礼”吸引了39 对夫妇;6对新婚佳偶和33 对已婚夫妇。

以前, 每对夫妇只需支付S$30参加这项 活动, 现在每对夫妇需至少S$168 的费用。

费用保括周末旅馆住宿、一场20个客人自助晚餐和旅行礼卷。如果夫妇选择S$388配套,它包括婚照摄影、服装和化妆。这实在是一个好玩, 有纪念价值又划算的活动!要不是我晚了一步, 我一定会参加!

有兴趣参加明年的“集体婚礼”的夫妇, 可与新加坡福建会馆联系。我正在考虑,是否要参加 。

有赞助商吗?? ... 嘻嘻...






Weekend Snapshot





56 comments:

  1. Yeah, you should renew your Vows too!! I'll only do mine on a Padang though... you know? LOL!! Wonderful revival of a fascinating riyual!

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  2. LB,
    I'll take a photo of our Padang and you can consider having your wedding vows on it. hehe....

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  3. Eh, next year if you're going tell me hor! I also want :P

    whey, you forgot I teach swimming huh? these 2 days not very hot, keep threatening to rain but didn't.
    so pray rain heavily on the days I teach!! :P heeheee..

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  4. napaboaniya,
    Great! I'm looking for kakis!! OK... *writes down napaboaniya's name*

    Anyone wants to join me, please leave a comment and your contact! ^-^

    psst... napaboaniya, you so bad ah... hoping for heavy rain!

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  5. I didn;t know there were many rituals for CNY.
    Thank you for sharing...

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  6. Thanks for sharing those informations..Beautiful photos too!

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  7. great shots!

    happy ws!

    mine is up too!

    http://www.pinoynetwork.org/vera

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  8. Nice to learn more of this Chinese ritual. It must be a grand celebation, imagine with so many couples having their wedding all at the same time.

    Have a great weekend ahead!

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  9. I don't think I would like to renew my vows... I guess mainly because I remember how stressful I was for my wedding. However, I believe it must be interesting to take a look at this mass wedding ceremony.

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  10. This is so interesting thank you for sharing that. It is always nice to learn something from other cultures

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  11. Wow, that girl sitting in the trishaw looks like a teenager and she is one of the brides?

    I don't know if I would like a mass wedding but looking at one is interesting.

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  12. Interesting post and lovely shots. That looks like a happy way to renew vows. Get lots of photos of you and your husband if you do it next year.

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  13. This sounds like a beautiful community celebration of marriage and family and all the good stuff! What a great idea.

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  14. A fascinating insight into a world I haven't seen.

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  15. i love the picture of the temple... beautiful....:) happy ws

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  16. Oh so romantic!! I love weddings and this one looks like a lot of fun. I love the picture from the 60's of all the classic brides standing in a row!!

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  17. Wonderful explanation and loved the pictures

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  18. that really neat. I watch that mass wedding before in TV it really a amazing sight. Great stuff..

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  19. chinese really got a lot of traditions. good thing the people are still celebrating it and keep the tradition. =) I thought Aug 11 is chinese Valentines day? I remember a taiwanese guy told me that.

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  20. this temples are very cool .. and given the history behind them. Many times they are considered symbolic to China. Were these temples in the forbidden city?

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  21. Those are interesting photos :)

    Have a nice week ahead!

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  22. wah, interesting lei..so many ppl wed together!

    but the waiting time very long lei!

    anyway, it will be one day to remember!

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  23. windy,
    hehe... yes, the wedding ceremony was stressful when I got married too.

    But this mass wedding event seems so fun. haha.... imagine there are people holding wedding ceremony for fun!

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  24. Tom,
    No fooling around. You don't want too many little Toms running wild! hehe...

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  25. judy,
    She does look young, but I can assure you she's above 21.

    I attended the ceremony and it seemed fun for the couples.

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  26. carver,
    Yes.... taking lots of pictures and having fun are my main reasons for participating in this Mass Wedding Ceremony. It should be very memorable too.

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  27. My angel,
    Go find a man and then plan for next year's Mass Wedding Ceremony. We get married on the same day! hehehe....

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  28. stev & emz,
    We Chinese do have a lot of customs and traditions and it's very hard to keep them alive today. The young people find it too troublesome and old-fashioned.

    I'm trying to preserve most of the customs and traditions handed down by my ancestors in my family. I want my children and future generations to know their roots.

    The Chinese festival in August is probably our Mooncake or Lantern Festival. It also promotes family togetherness and is a good day for marriages.

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  29. nabeel,
    This 100-year-old temple is the oldest temple in Singapore and it is
    constructed in the temple architectural style of southern China. It was gazetted a national monument on 6th July 1973.

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  30. 100 years, a good preservation the administrators are doing there.

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  31. That would be neat to see so many brides at once!

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  32. ECL, you very happening :) Every occasion you are there :) And you capture more pics than Strait times :)

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  33. some awards for you to choose. Have a nice day!

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  34. lzmommy,
    I'm invited to events and celebrations due to my work and also interest in everything cultural.

    I do agree that I have more photos to show than our local papers. That's because my blog space is not used to generate income and support VVIPs!

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  35. i learned something new again! :D thanks for sharing these beautiful photos and the story behind them. have a great week! :)

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  36. That's very interesting! It would be a very good experience to renew the vows this way.

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  37. good thing they brought it back...i like the packages for a meager amount of money

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  38. I was impressed of the 1960 wedding photo...
    have agreat week my dear Eastcoastlife!

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  39. Mass wedding ceremony? You are kidding me...ahaahah! Or are you trying to take the opportunity to look at other brides' bridegroom.:p
    I wonder in this modern age if any bridegroom will go astray when they see another pretty bride who is just not their own bride. Hahhaha...mental betrayal is betrayal also leh!

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  40. ECL,
    I often do the 'rain dance'!
    Especially on days I work :P :P

    Gotta be a member of the Hokkien Huay Guan to participate?

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  41. Oh wow, that's cool! Nice photos and blog! :D

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  42. I sponsor you one bunch of roses! ;-)

    I'm not a fan of mass wedding, though. feel very... ermmmm... pressure... hahaha!

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  43. wouldnt mind splurging on it for me n mrs bb to renew our vows there n have buffet for 20 guests n hotel room some more..seems reasonable....i got to start saving a ringgit a day first :)

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  44. The mass wedding is an interesting event highlight. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos.

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  45. There is mass wedding in Singapore?! Now, that is new to me. Not very romantic ... izzit?

    Hmmm.

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  46. How incredible! The building is beautiful and to see all those brides at once is awesome! Great post! :)

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  47. Oh, what a great post and pictures for the WS! how interesting.

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  48. These are wonderfully taken! Cool snaps especially the brides in queue, hehehe.

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