Florence's Wedding
The wedding was beautiful. There was a traditional wedding before the church wedding which is very symbolic. A calabash bowl is packed with a needle & thread to show the wife will take care of the husband's clothes, stitch them & keep the home, a bitter & a sweet cola nut symbolizing marriage has sweet & bitter times. A matt which shows that even in hard times, no money "to buy a bed" you don't leave your husband. These items are wrapped up in the calabash bowl with a white cloth which also symbolizes peace. The cloth is saved as a burial cloth I believe for the mother to symbolize her daughter was married when she dies. This bowl is brought when the husbands family comes to the brides house & knocks at their door & they say they have come to bring peace & they noticed a rose in the garden & wanted to pick it. Then they come in & they are given cold water. Then "false brides" greet the husband's family & they are asked is this the rose you saw & they will say no until the real bride appears. The calabash bowl is something that grows on a tree that is dried out & used for this ceremony. It is carried by a young virgin child on the father's side & given to the bride. I got this info from my day workers & another married woman here & I probably didnt get everything corrert but this is close I think. I love the symbolism & I think it is a wonderful tradition.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
I have been waiting for Kenny to blog but he has been so busy & I have a moment to mention a story. One of my local Sierra Leone Day Volunteers told me about her auntie who was killed by the RUF during the Civil War. As was not uncommon, the soldiers bet on a pregnant woman's baby's sex, & then cut her open to see who won. My Day Volunteer's mother who was this woman's sister was hiding in the bush & saw the whole horror. Everyone here has been traumatized by the war. The pregnant woman did leave behind a daughter who was raised with my Day Volunteer so they grew up as sisters. Less than 2 months ago this young woman had a baby girl and she was born with her feet being twisted so she will not be able to walk normally. Her husband told her the child had a devil & to leave her in the forest, but she refused. My Day Volunteer brought me a photo of the baby & we prayed for the situation. We contacted the Orthopedic department but I was anxious because they already have a full schedule. Fortunately there was room & they said the baby can be helped. My Day Volunteer shared with me that her "sister" was dancing, singing & crying for joy when she found out the news. There is enormous need here & I ponder this sorrow as I walk the streets here in Freetown. I am refreshed hearing about the rejoicing & excitement that this mother has for her little girl. What a huge difference it will be to be able to walk normally and especially to live without the stigma that a devil has possessed you.
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