I just returned from my first baci this morning. A baci is a traditional Lao ceremony to celebrate a special event such as a birth, marriage, homecoming, welcoming, or festival or to bring a cure to the sick. Before the ceremony, the women prepare a pha kwan which is a bowl from which an arrangement of flowers, bananas leaves and pieces of white thread is created. This is placed in the center of a white cloth which will be the site for the ceremony. An elder, often a monk, then calls all the wandering spirits back to their inhabitant. The kwan are components of the soul described by some as “vital forces, giving harmony and balance to the body, or part of it" or "vital breath". According to the Lao, the kwan look over the 32 organs which unite to form a human being. Sickness or suffering is often blamed on the wandering or loss of one of these kwan. The kwan are called back and then white strings are tied around the wrists of the people of honor with blessings of long life, health, prosperity, etc. Sometimes small monetary bills are tied on with the strings. The strings should be left on for at least three days when they can be untied, but not cut off. It is preferred to leave them on until they fall off. Afterward, everyone shares a meal (and alcohol) together.
So, when the neighbors came over this week to invite us to the baci for their newborn daughter, I had a vague idea of what was involved, but hadn't yet seen one. Thalea was born 1.5 weeks ago to her Thai mother and Belgian father. Overall, it was a baby shower with animist/Buddhist spiritual rituals. I do not share their spiritual beliefs, but they are our neighbors and it was nice to celebrate with them on the birth of their baby and interact with some other folks. Bryan and I bought baby gifts at the Shell station (yes, it was a little like doing Christmas shopping at the mini-mart on Christmas morning, but it is a nice gas station!) When we arrived, it seemed that the only people who brought gifts were falang and most of them had also come from the gas station. We tied the strings, ate the food and chatted with folks. Ning, our housekeeper, and Sou, our administrator, also came and it was nice to chat with them. This ceremony has special meaning to the Lao people, but for me it was just a nice break from my Saturday morning studies.
Ning and Sou with Thalea and her father.
1 comment:
This is one of the reason's I love traveling! I love trying to understand and learn about their customs and beliefs. It is so fascinating. I have found the Asian customs and beliefs to be extremely interesting and so different from what we are accustomed to.
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