Location of Manitoba in Canada By Qyd (Self from GIS data) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
East and South East Asian Socials
The younger generations tend to adapt much more easily to the ways and mores of a Prairie wedding social even though it may not be well understood. No matter, newcomers outside the Prairie Provinces have trouble understanding this concept too. After all, it’s a Prairie thing! Nonetheless, we do have to be mindful of the food-related items on our menu to at least reflect, in part, the dietary restrictions and religious and cultural differences of any guests we invite.
“Pupunta ako sa social. Sama ka?” I’m going to a social. Want to come?
Front View of Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba |
Over 90% of the Filipinos are Christians which sits rather well with Manitoba’s 78% Christian based faiths. Like many of us, Filipinos give credence to the Pamamanhikan or “parental marriage proposal” whereby the man respectfully asks the parents of the woman for her hand in marriage. A positive response brings together the two families to celebrate the occasion in the home of the bride to be. A pre-wedding social that has all the sentiments of a hen night may also be done by some families, known as the Despedida de Soltera.
Filipino Chicken Adobo by Gibson Torreon C (Own work)
[CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Two common Filipino social dishes are the Lechon (roasted
pork dish) and chicken or pork adobo. Rice, pancit palabok (dried noodles), lumpia (spring
rolls) with leche flan and maja de blanca for desert round out their food party favorites.
“Ni Hao”. (你好) Hello. Filipinos may well outnumber the Chinese in terms of population figures, but the Chinese have a far longer history of settlement in Manitoba that has earned them much respect among Canadians. However, the Chinese community in Manitoba is much less numerous in Manitoba than in the other Prairie Provinces. Most Chinese Canadians have no religious affiliation, but of those that do about 14% are Buddhist another 14% are Catholic and some 9% belonged to Protestant denominations. Confucianism and Taoism are two belief systems and practices that are deeply embedded into the Chinese culture. Filipino Catholicism is also known for some colorful cultural borrowings influenced by Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism.
China town bridge, Winnipeg By Ccyyrree (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons |
A gongfu tea table with accessories By Neptunati (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons |
The pre-wedding Filipino Chinese traditions mentioned here are not meant to be exhaustive. Filipinos, like the Chinese, do share some common traditions, and ways like the Kiu Hun or Kiu Tsin – Chinese Filipino Pamamanhikan, yet beliefs, and values still differ and vary by region, culture and social status. However, like most cultural groups in the diaspora, strict courtship ritual “stages” are giving way to some Western style nuances. While parents still prefer their children to engage in face-to-face family meet and greets, newer forms of communication exchanges are coming to be accepted. Families may get to know each other in a more neutral zone such as the restaurant vs the home, and courtship interactions may now include texting, emails, face chat time and other social media.
Some important social and entertainment venues held in the Chinese community are the Dragon Boat Festival, Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Mid- Autumn Festival, and the Chinese Cultural Festival. Throw in a live band or a DJ to the mix that is playing Western pop music sprinkled with an ethnic song here and there, and someone who wants to belt out ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” when it’s Karaoke time and you have yourself a Filipino or Chinese social! No one is hungry and the party never ends!
South Asian Socials
Pressing hands together with a smile to greet Namaste – a common cultural practice in India. By Saptarshi Biswas (Oberoi Employees_Rishi (23)) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Sat Sri Akal (Punjabi: ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ; God is the ultimate truth).
Nomoshkar (Bangali: नमोस्कार ; bow to the divine in you).
Vanakkam (Tamil: வணக்கம்; Hello)
Pre-wedding socials such as the maiyaan and gaye holud festivities are joyous occasions to be sure, but the mehendi or sangeet nights are grand affairs in their own right. These pre-wedding receptions are a platform for the families to meet each other at their respective homes or at the local community banquet hall. They are very popular fun-filled traditions among North Indian and Pakistani immigrants to Manitoba, particularly among the Gujaratis and Punjabis. Songs, dances, food and stories are shared.
Mehndi (Henna) applied on both hands By AKS.9955 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
All together, from the more immediate friends and family oriented pre-wedding socials to the live festive music and prizes of Diwali night socials that abound in Manitoba, you will also find those parties that resemble the typical mainstream Manitoba Social too. The socials may be hybrid in nature and Punjabi and East Indian DJs will bring their own spin on music that includes but is not limited to the Top 40, Bhangra, Indian or Hindi Pop, Bollywood songs and remixes, Hiphop, electronic House, Mashup songs and other fun remix smash-ups too. Socials are about fun, and fun is about variety, a variety of food, songs, dance, music and conversation. Enjoy!
Written by Ihor Cap, Web author and Dad.
Link to Source: http://ezreklama.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-socials-mosaic-in-manitoba.html