Kalagan Wedding Customs

Abstract

This study on Kalagan wedding customs was based on: texts by Kalagan themselves; recording of a speech at a wedding; an interview; and personal observations at three weddings. The paper outlines the complete procedure that leads up to the wedding starting with the presentation of the man's request to the girl's family (presental), on the engagement (kagon) and the actual wedding (kawin). Several aspects of Kalagan wedding customs can be considered outdated, such as pre-arranged marriages and the daut (the chanting of advices for the young couple). Other aspects have changed considerably over the last decade or two, such as how high, or what should be the bride price, and who pays for the wedding expenses. But many other aspects are still practiced to varying degrees. Specifically, the three steps presental, kagon, kawin are still observed.