Pans

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I'm actually not referring to the usual frying and other kind of pan, but rather the steel drum otherwise known as the steel pan. It's an instrument that was created in the Caribbean in the 1930's on the island country  of Trinidad & Tobago. 

The steel drum is a descendant of the hand drum and is essentially a large oil drum container that has been dented to produce a specific tone. Actually it's now very common for many steel drums to make sounds that correspond to standard musical notes. Most of the time they are printed on the portion of the drum that will produce that particular note as you can see below. More advance players don't need the notes printed on their drum. 

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There are also different types of pans like the lead tenor, double tenor, bass, etc. with each having its own tone and purpose in a large steel drum group. 

Steel pan music is now very common all over the Caribbean, and many islands have steel pan competitions included in their carnivals. Steel drums have a uniquely Caribbean flavor. 

Why am I writing about this? Stay tuned.  

Afrocentric Weddings - Attire

In addition to wonderful ceremony traditions, some who want to bring African traditions into their wedding opt to wear ethnic inspired attire. While I tend not to be too traditional in my view of what one should do for weddings, I do love the look of a traditional wedding dress. At the same time, I think it would be cool to rock an untradtional dress/outfit like these below all while expressing your culture.

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Who says grooms can't get involved too? I love gold and white especially in the summer.

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I'm loving the soft yet regal head wrap.

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This dress is a design from Therez Fleetwood who specializes in Afrocentric/ethnic bridal wear. I love the chic simplicity of this dress.

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This dress highlights West African African Andinkra symbols from Ghana each with its own meaning.

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I love cowrie shells!

Afrocentric Weddings -Tasting of the Four Elements

Why not incorporate culture and food right into the ceremony? Here's a description of the tasting of the four elements:

In a ritual adapted from a Yoruba tradition, the bride and groom taste four flavors that represent different emotions within a relationship. The four flavors typically used are sour (lemon), bitter (vinegar), hot (cayenne), and sweet (honey). By tasting each of the flavors, the couple symbolically demonstrates that they will be able to get through the hard times in life, and, in the end, enjoy the sweetness of marriage. (source)

I love that this ritual gives us a physical reminder of the various aspects of married life. I can imagine that it must be quite a shock to the palate to taste these elements in succession. I guess that's how relationships are in a way: The hot will follow the sweet, which can turn sour at any given moment. When you're sharing forever together as a couple, I guess it's good to expect the unexpected.

Will food or any uncommon object or practice be incorporated into your ceremony?

Afrocentric Weddings - Libation Ceremony

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In my research I came across the African libation ceremony, which honors ancestors. I love the idea of honoring the past while looking forward to the future. Here is a brief description of the premise of the libation ceremony:

Many African-American couples incorporate a libation ceremony into their weddings as a way to honor their African ancestors. Holy water, or alcohol, is poured onto the ground in each of the cardinal directions as prayers are recited to the ancestral spirits, and names of those that have recently passed are called out. The libation ceremony can also be used as an opportunity to honor the elders in a family, asking them to pass on their wisdom and guidance. (source)

The libation ceremony incorporates the past and family history into a wedding ceremony. In many ways, we are who we are because of our family histories. Our marriages represent a continuation of that legacy.

I'll leave you with a sample libation ceremony text:

An African proverb tells us that people who lack the knowledge of their past are like a tree without roots. So, in the spirit of remembrance, we pour this libation. We pour to honor the past, so that we may learn from it. We pour to honor the importance of family. We raise our cup to God to show our reverence for the original source of our lives. We use cool water to freshen the road our ancestors travel to be here with us today. We use cool water as a symbol of the continuity of life, to purify and to nourish our souls. We pour to celebrate the coming together of the families of these two people.

It is said that through others, we are somebody. Through this marriage, we broaden our family circle, remember our heritage and recall those who gave us life. We call upon our ancestors -- our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers, our fathers, grandfathers and our great grandfathers, uncles, aunts and cousins -- the foundations of our families, immortalized in our thoughts.

We call upon our elders, whose wisdom we seek in all endeavors. Our friends whom we are blessed to have in our lives, our parents who guided us along the road to adulthood. We call upon family who have passed over and could not be here today. We ask that they be with us in our thoughts. We call upon the bride and groom, that they may always find prosperity in love and devotion. We ask that this couple be blessed by children, because children give glory to a home.

Therefore we cast our libations to the North, to the South, to the East and to the West. [Libation toast giver turns in the indicated directions while reading.] We wish everyone to leave more blessed than when they came. Amen. (source)

Did you or anyone you know find ways to honor your family legacies in your wedding ceremony?

Afrocentric Weddings - Jumping the Broom

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On my personal blog, I did a series during Black History Month on Afro-centric wedding elements, and I thought I would share some of them here on Wedding Bee. While many people of African descent may not incorporate African/African-American elements into every aspect of their weddings, there are many small things that brides can do to add a little cultural flair. I hope t0 highlight a few in this series.

Since Mr. Swan and I are an interracial couple, I am not sure whether we'll incorporate many of these traditions into our wedding. While I doubt we'll be having many of these elements, don't get it twisted. I will be incorporating my Afro-Caribbean culture in some way. I'm still doing some fine tuning. Also while many of these traditions come from African/African-American culture, I think there is a beautiful universal meaning that anyone from any culture can take away from these celebrations.

The first and most common cultural element that I have seen at weddings is the act of jumping the broom. Here is some information that I uncovered:

This tradition most likely originated with an African ritual in which a broom is used to demonstrate that all past problems have been swept away. During slave days, African-Americans were forbidden to marry and live together, so jumping over a broom was a formal and public declaration of the couple's commitment. Today, it has become very popular for African-American couples to follow suit at the conclusion of their wedding ceremony. The broom, often handmade and beautifully decorated, can be displayed in the couple's home after the wedding. (source)

Apparently, some authors claim that jumping the room is not specifically African/African-American in origin, but it has been most connected to Black slaves in the United States.

I have to admit that I like the idea behind broom jumping. I love the notion of crossing a line into a new life together in both a metaphorical and physical way during the ceremony. Ultimately, this is what our weddings are about: A new beginning.

Are you incorporating a specific cultural element into your weddings? Does it have a specific significance to you and your future partner?

An Epic Week

This was an epic week. A new era started with a new President and First Lady. Based on many of the interviews, I've seen with Michelle and Barack Obama, I will say that they seems to have a a warm and loving relationship. Go New First Family!

Living during this historic moment in American history made me think about the people who came before us and how America has changed quite a bit (although there is still tons more room for improvement) particularly as it relates to Mr. CPF and me. You see, Mr. CPF is of Italian and English ancestry, and I am of Afro-Caribbean descent (throw in some Carib Indian and European ancestry, and you're all good). Years ago we would have barely even socialized much less married each other. Thanks to people like Mildred and Richard Loving, we have the right to be legally married (and unfortunately because of acts like Prop 8 in California, we all cannot marry who we wish). Their landmark Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia struck down anti-miscegenation laws throughout the country. Without what they went through, Mr. CPF and I would not be here today. 

Thinking about how we have overcome our collective past makes me excited about our future. 

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The Kwanzaa Connection

You know, sometimes I think I've things down pat, and I can make all of these cool connections to various theories and ideas. Then I realize that a lot of people are way ahead of me. Like this blog post connecting Kwanzaa principles to wedding/marriages (Um, thanks Martha Stewart Weddings!). Regardless of your feelings or knowledge about this holiday, I think the underlying Seven Principles are beautiful and have application throughout our daily lives.

Happy Kwanzaa!

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