Customs of Birth and Marriage in Central Java
Ditulis pada: September 23, 2021
Indonesia is an archipelagic country that is famous for its rich culture. The culture grows and develops from areas that still adhere to their customs. Through customs that are still maintained by the community, it becomes a culture which eventually becomes the identity of the people in particular, and Indonesia in general.
Customs are the habits adopted by the people of an area from generation to generation. Usually the customs contain rules that have become community conventions in carrying out something.
Customs can be interpreted as norms that exist in a society and are formed based on conventions and inheritance from ancestors. These norms are independent of the rules contained in religion and are contextual in nature (each region and community has different customs).
However, these customs are not only rules in behavior, there are also traditional heritages in the form of material, such as houses, clothes, and so on.
One area in Indonesia that still maintains its customs is Central Java. The customs of Central Java are still very much preserved even though the attacks of modernization and globalization are hitting Indonesia.
Through its customs that are continuously maintained, Central Java is currently known as an area with a myriad of cultures and arts. Many even say that Central Java is a city of culture and art, especially in Yogyakarta.
Central Java Customs Welcoming Birth
One of the Central Javanese customs that still survives today is the custom of getting pregnant, welcoming birth, until the baby grows into a teenager.
Many mothers expect to have children soon after marriage, so the prospective mother can follow or carry out the mupu custom. Mupu in Indonesian can be interpreted as 'picking up a child'. It is intended that later the mother who picked up this child can get pregnant soon.
As we know that in Javanese culture, we often use certain symbols or signs to predict something. It is also used to predict the sex of the baby to be born.
When the mother is pregnant, if her face looks unclean and not as beautiful as usual, then it indicates that the baby to be born will be a boy. And, if the mother's face looks clean and more beautiful than usual, it indicates that the baby to be born will be a girl.
When the pregnancy enters the age of seven months, a mitoni or seven-month ceremony is held. During this ceremony, an ivory coconut is prepared with the image of two wayang figures, namely Dewa Kamajaya and Dewi Kamaratih. If the baby born is a boy, it is expected that he will be handsome like Dewa Kamajaya and if the girl is expected to be as beautiful as Dewi Kamaratih.
In addition, at this mitoni ceremony there is also a special food menu, namely Gudangan (vegetables) which are seasoned with certain ingredients and side dishes, and there must be fruit salad.
After that, when the baby was born, there was a traditional salvation called brokohan. At this event, a cone is usually provided, complete with vegetables and side dishes.
When the baby is 35 days old, a selapanan event is held. In this event, the baby's hair is cut, the aim is that later the hair can grow thick, but it is also a sign of repellent.
The next custom is the tedak siten custom. This custom is performed when the baby is 245 days old. It is in this custom that the baby will for the first time set his feet on the ground.
After the baby grows up and before the age of eight, if he doesn't have a younger sibling yet, a ruwatan ceremony is held. It aims to prevent children from all harm. After approaching adolescence, it's time for the child to be circumcised.
Central Java Marriage Customs
1. Watching
Watching if interpreted in Indonesian is to look around. Watching is a custom to see a potential partner to be married. Once upon a time, prospective husband and wife were often people who did not know each other and did not know each other.
Although nowadays most of the prospective married couples already know each other, this custom is still maintained.
It aims to obtain an overview of the potential partner. The tradition of watching this is usually done by the groom. This watch is done after an investigation from the man's family regarding the girl who will become his son-in-law, this investigation is called dom sumup ing banyu or secret investigation.
After the show is over and the results are satisfactory, both parents will discuss the exact date for the application.
2. Application
Applying in Indonesian can be interpreted as proposing. This application is carried out based on the agreement of both parents (pinisepuh). In this application there is a peningset ceremony. The word peningsetan comes from the Javanese language, namely from the word singset which means bond.
So, peningset can be interpreted as a binder. Peningsetan is a ceremony of handing over goods from the groom to the bride as a symbol of binding, that the woman already has a prospective husband.
According to tradition, the items that are handed over during the peningsetan ceremony are batik cloth, semekan, kebaya material, gold jewelry, a sum of money which is usually called a tukon (reward) whose amount is adjusted to the economic capacity.
In addition, there is also a jodang which contains diamonds, jadah, plantain, rengginang, sugar, tea, side dishes, and a coconut that is carried separately, as well as a pair of live chickens.
Usually in welcoming the arrival of the gending Nala Ganjur. After the peningsetan event is over, a deliberation is usually held from both parties to determine the auspicious day of the wedding.
3. Tarub ceremony
Tarub is a decoration of yellow leaves that is installed on the edge of the tratag made of woven green coconut leaves. Tarub is usually held at the same time as the Javanese siraman (bathing the bride and groom), usually one day before the wedding ceremony takes place.
4. Nyantri
Nyantri is the custom of entrusting the groom to the bride's family 1-2 days before the wedding ceremony. Usually the groom will live in the bride's neighbor's house next door. This is done so that at the time of the wedding ceremony, the groom does not bother his relatives who are also busy preparing others, and makes it easier to prepare everything at the time of the wedding.
5. Siraman
Siraman in Indonesian can be interpreted as bathing, namely bathing the bride and groom before the wedding ceremony. It aims to purify the bride and groom, to return clean and holy.
6. Midodareni
Midodareni is a Javanese language that comes from the root word widodari, which means angel. This refers to beings from heaven who are beautiful and fragrant. This midodareni ceremony is also called midodareni night, because this ceremony is usually held from 18.00 to 24.00 and the bride and groom are not allowed to sleep.
7. Steps
Steps in Indonesian can be interpreted as jumping. This ceremony is carried out if the bride and groom have an unmarried sister, and before the wedding ceremony the bride and groom must first ask permission from their unmarried sister.
8. Ijab
Ijab or Ijab Kabul is the ratification of the bride and groom to be husband and wife in accordance with religious rules. According to the customs of Central Java, in this ceremony the bride is handed over to the man, and the groom is accepted by the bride.
9. Panggih
Panggih in Indonesian means to meet. After the consent is completed, the groom goes to his waiting area and the bride enters the room, then the two are brought together.
