My Family

I have written before that I am from a very large extended family and we are also a 5-generations family (五代同堂). In one line of my family, five females in the family represent 5 generations of the Phang (彭) Family in a direct line of descent. They are the 彭门女将 :-)

 

The oldest is my mum at 88 and the youngest is my great-grand niece at just 4 months old.

The great thing about an extended family is the family events. At my mum's last birthday do, just the immediate family occupy more than 40 tables, not including those who cannot make it to the celebration! During Lunar New Year, family members visiting the family matriarch have to visit in large groups at regularly spaced intervals to  allowed for standing/sitting room to be available and food and drinks  to be replenished! It is just great fun!

Family Wedding

Today is the 14th day of the Eighth Moon and there is a wedding in the family. 

The first male of the 30th Generation (三十世) of our branch of the Peng (彭) Family getting married today is the grandson of my third brother.

In the front hall is the altar for the Peng (彭) Family Ancestral Worship Ceremony. The Peng (彭) family is part of the LungSiTang (隴西堂）Clan. Hence, the heading on the altar.

 

The young couple performing the offering of tea and wine to their ancestors - conducted by the Master of Ceremonies.

This is followed by the traditional tea ceremony where the newly-wedded couple offers tea to all their elders.

My mum, the matriach of the family, as the great-grandmother is the first to be greeted. She accepted the offered tea from her great-grandson and great-grand daughter-in-law and then gave them a red packet in return.

Each of the elders take their turns and finally the newly wedded couple got to sit down to accept tea offered by their younger siblings, cousins and nephews and nieces. The new couple then give each of them a red packet of money.

The ceremony is then followed by lunch in the house.

My mum posing for a picture with my second sister on this happy occasion.........

Both are hale and healthy!