Betawi Customs and Culture with Multiethnic
Ditulis pada: October 19, 2021
Values Betawi customs and culture have their own peculiarities. This is because it is formed based on a blend of cultures from various ethnic groups. Call it the Sundanese, Javanese, Balinese, Bugis, Makassarese, Ambonese, and Malays. Coupled with immigrant tribes, such as from Arab, Indian, Chinese, and European.
Archaeological finds, dating from the 11th century AD can describe the indigenous arts and culture of the Betawi people. The findings in the research in Babelan, Bekasi Regency are in the form of earrings.
From a historical perspective, Betawi has always had an attraction for immigrants. Therefore, the area which was formerly the Kingdom of Salakanagara or Kalapa and is now called Jakarta, is visited by many people both from within and outside the archipelago.
During the leadership of King Pajajaran, Prabu Surawisesa, there was also a mix of cultures. At that time, Prabu Surawisesa had made an agreement with Portugal. The Keroncong Tugu became one of the cultural mixtures between the natives at that time and the people who came from Portugal.
Variety of Betawi customs and culture
1. Language
The Betawi language dialect also characterizes the combination of various cultures. Languages from various other regions in the archipelago and foreign cultures make a fairly dominant contribution in the formation of the Betawi language.
Malay for example. Due to the large number of immigrants from Sumatra and West Kalimantan, Malay is often spoken in Betawi. In fact, the original Betawi people originally used the Kawi language. They occupied the area around the port of Sunda Kelapa. In fact, the Malay language is also used by the Sundanese who occupy this area.
According to history, the entry of the Malay language into Betawi was in line with the expansion of the power of the Sriwijaya Kingdom from Sumatra to occupy the Tarumanegara Kingdom in Sundapura.
The Tarumanegara Kingdom was conquered because it was considered negligent. When asked for help by Sriwijaya, the Tarumanagara Kingdom did not really protect the sea waters to the west of the Cimanuk River.
The sea area west of the Cimanuk River was controlled by the Sriwijaya Kingdom following the Sriwijaya-Kediri Peace Agreement mediated by China. Simultaneously, a group of immigrants from Sumatra and West Kalimantan to the port of Sunda Kelapa.
Furthermore, as described in the ancient manuscript Bujangga Manik which is stored in the Bodleian library, Oxford, England, there is a very striking language difference between the language used by the people around Batavia and the Sundanese.
Therefore, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Dutch referred to residents around Batavia as ethnic Betawi.
However, the Sundanese language remains entrenched in the region. So do not be surprised if many names of regions and rivers are still thick with the Sundanese language. Like Cideng comes from Cihideung.
Then, changed to Cideung and later became Cideng. Other Sundanese names include Ciliwung, Cilandak, Ancol, and Pancoran.
Now, Indonesian is the official language used in Jakarta. For daily conversation, the residents of Jakarta use Indonesian with the Betawi dialect.
2. Art
Western, Chinese, Arabic, Malay, and Sundanese art greatly influenced Betawi music. However, no matter how strong this influence is, the color of the music produced is still typical of Betawi culture.
Here are some types of Betawi music:
- The keroncong tugu has a Portuguese-Arabic background,
- Gambang kromong which originally comes from the original Chinese musical arts,
- Tanjidor has a Dutch background, and
- Rebana has its roots in Arabic musical traditions.
Several types of Betawi dance:
- Samrah Dance,
- Dance cokek,
- Zapin dance,
- Dance mask Betawi,
- Blenggo dance,
- Dance influenced jaipong Yapong Sunda, and
- Dance cokek.
Several types of Betawi acting are:
- Lenong,
- Tonil,
- Sahibul),
- Hikayat (speech theatregambang rancag (speech theatre), and
- Betawi shadow puppets.
- Usually do the daily life of the Betawi people.
Betawi folklore, along with Betawi folklore which is quite legendary:
- Si Pitung (Betawi champion),
- Serial Jagoan Tulen (Betawi champion),
- Si Jampang (Betawi champion),
- Nyai Dasima, tells of life during the colonial era,
- Mirah from Marunda,
- Murtado Macan Kemayoran ,
- Skipper Boing and others.
3. Betawi traditional weapon
Bendo or machete with a wooden sheath.
4. Betawi traditional clothes
Betawi men's traditional clothing is in the form of a headgear commonly called a headdress or liskol. The suit jacket covers the neck (the coat closes). Down wearing batik trousers.
A piece of batik cloth or lockan is wrapped around the waist and a dagger is tucked in front of the stomach. The women's traditional clothing is a kebaya, equipped with a long scarf that covers the head and batik cloth.
While the groom's clothes consist of a turban, long robe, and trousers. This composition is heavily influenced by Arab culture. Both the groom and the bride wear a tarpaulin (footwear). The motifs are heavily influenced by Arab culture.
Chinese culture is more influenced by the traditional dress of the bride. The bride looked elegant wearing a yangko (face cover), with an encim dress and a long skirt. Looks like a safety pin and a belt made of gold or silver to complete the outfit.
Invited guests usually wear a listering bracelet, and a rhombus-shaped ring.
5. Betawi Culinary
Pletok beer is a unique drink of the Betawi people. This drink adopted from the west has its own taste. Pletok beer made from ginger, can warm and nourish the body. It is called pletok beer, because it is said that when it is cooked it makes a "pletak-pletok" sound.
While the types of traditional foods typical of the Betawi ethnicity include babanci vegetables (1,000 spices), gado-gado, geplak, and egg crust.
6. Betawi traditional wedding procession
The groom's
default The mandatory default for the groom consists of a betel application as a symbol of respect for the woman, a mosque mockup as a message to the woman not to forget to worship.
Other obligatory defaults are kekudung, dowry (dowry), childbirth, and petise. Delivery in the form of women's clothing and crocodile bread. While a petition is a box containing vegetables or raw materials for a party.
Crocodile bread is a symbol of loyalty. By upholding the loyalty of the partner will be eternal and not polygamous. The pair also always look for food together.
That is the meaning contained in the symbol of a pair of crocodile bread. Sometimes a small alligator bun is also included. This shows the symbol of the second child of the bride and groom later.
The procession of the bride and groom
When going to do the marriage ceremony, the groom is escorted like a king. The groom is also accompanied by a group that brings offerings. Ondel-ondel, tanjidor, marawis, and two young men carrying coconut flowers (a symbol of prosperity) also enliven the atmosphere. Its position is at the front.
As soon as the group arrives, they will be greeted with explosions of firecrackers, a big celebration will be held.
Open the latch
“Open the latch” is a ceremony that the groom goes through before the marriage contract. The point is as a test for the groom to be accepted as a prospective husband. In this procession, male and female family envoys exchanged rhymes and martial arts fights.
7. Betawi ethnic house
Traditional Betawi ethnic house usually consists of three parts. The first part of the public area is the living room or amben. The two private areas are the living room and the room or pangkeng. The three service areas are the kitchen or srondoyan.
In Betawi architecture, there are balaksuji. The existence of ladder construction that is often found in this type of stilt house is considered sacred. Because, if there are people who pass through balaksuji it is interpreted towards holiness.
Judging from the shape, here are some Betawi ethnic houses.
Joglo house
The shape of the roof soars up and is blunt. Not much different from the Javanese joglo house. Joglo house has two porches. The back porch is for receiving female guests and the front porch for receiving male guests. The entrance is on the side.
The kebaya
house is called the kebaya house, because the side looks like the folds of a kebaya. This house, which has several pairs of roofs, is a symbol of the residents of Jakarta. That is, it consists of various ethnic groups.
House on stilts
House on stilts made of wood. This Betawi ethnic house in the 15-16th century is similar to a traditional Malay house. The house on stilts is designed to be able to withstand floods that may come at any time. Usually found in swampy areas or on the coast of Marunda.
Bapang house and warehouse
Betawi ethnic house in plain and simple rectangular shape. If the roof of the saddle-shaped house is not full and wide, the rumah gadang has a full gable roof.
8. Betawi mascot doll
Ondel-ondel is a Betawi folk art that eventually became the "mascot" of the city of Jakarta. Experts confirm that ondel-ondel dolls have existed for centuries. This giant doll with a 2.5 meter tall bamboo frame was made for ceremonial purposes.
Ondel-ondel is believed to have supernatural powers. His job is to maintain the safety of the village and its contents. Therefore, ondel-ondel is always present when carrying out village clean ceremonies or alms of the earth.
Time continues to evolve. Now, ondel-ondel serves as a lively atmosphere. Both at the procession of circumcision brides, weddings, inauguration, and parades. In addition, of course to be the "mascot" of Jakarta.
