Kekkon Shiki - the Wedding Ceremony

Behind all the kimono finery and the stateliness of the wedding procession, Shinto wedding ceremonies are much simpler compared to the Filipino Catholic weddings I'm accustomed. No "Catholic Calisthenics" of "sit, stand, kneel, repeat" and "get a cracker at the end" (Norv's observation). Add in the additional Filipino customs of offerings and symbols of "cord, candle and veil", the wedding entourage, a crowd of 200-300 guests and it becomes a very large affair. I'm tired just writing the Cliff Notes version of a Filipino wedding! The Shinto wedding ceremony was only 20 minutes. Again, the interplay of simple and elegant.

Inside the shrine, it was a haven from the surreal experience of the procession. Tatay was overcome with both awe from the cultural elements we were being exposed to, and emotion, from marrying off the first of his children. And of course, he missed his wife at this special family event. Tatay almost knocked over the chairs for our side of the shrine, in domino fashion. Luckily, he caught the chair as well as his composure. We all had our moments, throughout the day, of being elated for Greg and missing Mom.

We didn't understand anything said during the ceremony or nor some of the significance, other than the Marriage Oath which Greg read in English. Okegawa-san told Tatay that some of the prayers recited were in ancient Japanese, that he didn't even understand!At one point, the Shinto priest was speaking to Fumiko-san and Greg; Fumiko nodded in agreement, but Greg just looks on yet realized some important advice is being said.


One thing that struck Tatay as different, was that there was no physical contact between Greg and Fumiko-san other than the exchange of rings, no kiss to seal the deal. In the Shinto ceremony, sealing the deal is expressed by sansankudo or "three, three, nine". Towards the end of the ceremony, our families drank sake to unify the families. Sake was placed in front of the kids, too. Jeff saw Yoshie-chan dip her finger into her sake cup and then make a yucky face!

The newlyweds easily crack a smile for Jeff, despite the curious crowd around them.