过大礼 (preparation 1)

Mum and I went to Chinatown market to look around for what to get the groom for the 过大礼exchange. Of course there are the usual, 四点金 argument if it should come from the groom or accompanies the bride to be married off. Turns out, it is supposed to be part of a betrothal from a groom to ask for a bride's hands.

There is also the confusion if we are able to ask for a roast pig (since it is only a Cantonese tradition but according to this http://www.goldenhappiness.com.sg/bethrothal.html its not. And if we do, we can't ask for the 24 cans of pig trotters. Argh!

So to make things simple, we'll just get the usual traditional stuff and if one or two items are not in the specific dialect list, we'll still get it. In fact, my sister-in-law asked for a roast pig and 24 cans of pig trotters anyway.

In short, here is the list of things that Ah Lau needs to get me.

- 聘金
- 四点金 
- 2 pairs of dragon and phoenix candles
- peanut candy
- sesame candy
- 1 roast pig
- 12 oranges
- 2 bottles of wine
- 6 boxes of wedding cakes
- 老嫲糕 (for my grandma)
- 安床 things
- 1 tea set

And here are the things I would need to give back the groom.

- part of the 聘金
- a pair of the dragon and phoenix candles
- a pair of lamps
- 1 red basin and baby's bath tub
- towel
- bed linen
- tooth brush and tooth paste
- 1 belt and a pair of pants
- 2 bottles of orange juice
- 1 tea set

I think that's about it. The rest, I'll leave it my mum and Ah Lau's godma to ponder and add it.