It’s Wed. 6pm, the day after the wedding celebrations for Aron & Hapne. Tuesday began at 5 am for the men, who slaughtered 3 hogs and began the fires to cook them. We happily did not attend. At 7 am, I (Dara) was whisked away on the back of a motorbike to the salon where the women of the bridal party were groomed and dressed for the ceremonies. An exchange of suckling pig and golden carp between the two Batak families, Hapne’s family and Aron’s adoptive family, took place before the procession to the church. The church ceremony lasted over an hour and was almost entirely in Batak. Hapne was the most beautiful bride…she looked almost like a Geisha with flowers in her black coiffed hair and wearing her traditional sarong and lace overlay. I wore one as well and felt pretty special. After the church wedding, we processed back to Hapne’s family’s house where the street had been blocked off. For the rest of the day and into the night, there was dancing and music provided by a foursome playing flute, stringed instrument, keyboard and drums. They were fabulous. Several hundred people attended. There was ceremonial dancing, feasting and the giving of Ulos, the traditional textile blankets by every guest…some 300 blankets! It was a long and exhausting day and we bowed out early around 6:30 and missed the evening celebration. We were dead asleep by 9:30! There are photos and video we’ll put up when the internet gods permit!
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