MALAYSIA MALACCA - THE CULTURE -PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY

PORTUGUESE COMMUNITY

The Portuguese Eurasians are descendants of intermarriages between local malay woman and European Sailor and soldiers who sailed into Melaka with Alfonso D’Albuquerque in 1511. They enjoy Son of Soils status as they are acknowledge to be one of Malaysia’s indigenous races. Most Portuguese Eurasian in Melaka live in the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, prior to that they also live in a Bandar Hilir and Praya Land. The Settlement is also home to the Freeburghers , a community of Dutch and Portuguese descendants who intermarried the local.

CLOTHING

The famous Spanish costumes are unique to the Iberian Peninsula, expressing the Portuguese’ and “Spaniards distinct heritage and sovereignty. It must be acknowledged that each sub national identity in Spain has its own national costume and visual heritage. Their traditional clothing consists pf berets, stocking caps , baggy shirts and trousers for the men. Women wear long dresses and shawls. In other places the people dress entirely in black or another dark color for their daily activities, but they put on colorful garments on special occasions.

WEDDING

A Portuguese wedding will also be staged complete with the bride ornamented in her finery, along kebaya like blouse and a long silk skirt known as the Saia with beaded slippers. The groom too decked in black suit with a bow tie and a top hat or bowler.

CUISINE

Each region of Portugal has its own traditional dishes, including various kinds of meat, seafood, fresh fish salted cod (bacalhau) and the famous Cozido Portuguese (Portuguese Stew) . The sauces tend to be rich using local spices form the base of curry paste and gravies. The fabulous dishes from the crossover are Grilled Fish at the Portuguese Settlement which imparts a distinctive flavor from Portuguese and local.

ART AND HANDICRAFT

The Melaka Portuguese Eurasians are distinguishable by their language Christao, a mixture of Old Portuguese that is infused with Malay and English. It does not have any written form and is passed down through generation usage. Christianity was around Melaka for a long time but it was Portuguese who built the first churches. One of the most significant conqueror footprints is A ‘Famosa and the Church of Rosary which was built in 1710 and St Paul Church which survives until today.

CULTURAL CELEBRATION

Intrude “Coming Before” is celebrated in February on the Sunday preceding Ash Wednesday. In the evening merrymakers dressed in fancy costumes to do the Banya Biro, which is a community dance where they form a dancing chain that moves from house to house. In the week of before Easter, which marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion, Christian throughout the country mark the Holy Week , nowhere , or more colorful than Melaka.

It then commences with Palm Sunday remembering the day Christ rode into Jerusalem and was welcomed by the people who laid palm leaves in his path. This then commemorates on what is known as Good Friday where Christ was crucified on this day. Today is celebrated with special prayers and children are given the traditional colored Easter eggs.

Along with it is Fiesta de San Joao or the Feast of St John is the evening of candlelight possession from Praya Lane’s Assumption Church to the Settlement. Another Feast is Fiesta de San Pedro is to honor St Peter and this has been celebrated more than 4 centuries.