Habit of collecting meal left at wedding party to home
Packing soft-drinks, beers in purse or pocket and collecting wedding meals left from wedding celebration are rarely seen in Phnom Penh and provincial towns but these always have sometimes happened in the countryside or remote rural areas in provinces. I always spotted some guests take a can of beer and soft-drink at wedding party to home.
Last week, I joined my friend’s wedding party in village of the rural area in Kampot province. It was odd I have never seen before. I and four other friends of mine seated together with five other guests who are living in this village.
After finishing eating wedding meals, and there were the remaining food on plates, beers, soft-drink. And then I saw these women collecting soft-drink, beer, sweets to squeeze into their purses. Suddenly, one of women pulled out plastic bag from her purse and then collected all food left into her bag by asking me that “are you finished? And I immediately responded that “Yes.”
All of meals, beer and soft-drink were taken, but the last one on the table was a bottle of red wine that my friend- bridegroom- gave me to drink with other friends. I did not open it yet because I had not a bottle-opening. Therefore, I placed it in front of me in order to wait and drink together with bridegroom.
Unfortunately, we did not drink the red wine. Why? When the bottle of wine was standing in front of me. And then one of women moved it near her. I thought in my mind that she would probably take it. But I did not move it back. Oh my goodness, while she said good bye to me and my friends and then she carried all wrapped meals in plastic bags and a bottle of unopened red wine. There was only one bottle on my table.
Before leaving wedding party, my friend-bridegroom- walked toward me and my friends, and then we did not tell him about the red wine took away because we did not want him to be upset about this. In the fact, he saw the woman holding a bottle of red wine and foods toward her home. And he told me that “That is the habit of people here, if there are something left on the table, they will collect it.” So that, I just know it is the habit of people here. Things made me feel clear for what is going on.
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Comments
hello,it is good ,i think ,if the things are really left and the people take that home.they do the same in my district.even in thailand,they suggest their people to collect the things left in the party or in the restaurant to bring home in order not to waste any resource in lavish way.
People seemed not caring about their reputation or saving face these day. They may thought, yes I handed over my enveloped [money in side it] then I am entitled to collect anything left over on the table. Ashamed indeed.
[…] vutha wrote a fantastic post today on “Habit of collecting food left from wedding party to home”Here’s ONLY a quick extractAfter finishing eating wedding meals, and there were the remaining food on plates, beers, soft-drink. And then I saw these women collecting soft-drink, beer, sweets to squeeze into their purses. Suddenly, one of women pulled out plastic … […]
It is also common and this shall be changed. but how to change? at traditional ceremony, people especially monks and respectful olders shall advice.
I have the same story man, in commune one of Banteay meas district, Kampot province. My family made (I don’t know how to write but in khmer is Bun Pa Jay Buon) we seem like had a small party, we order food such as Num Banh jok, breads with Samlor kari and consider that they were enough for the people comes. It was bad! They came alot one person was invited, they come whole family and bring bad for tomorrow, So finally we spent 4 time more than as we think before.
Hahaha!! That’s ridiculous then!!! if i had been there, i would have said ” ស៊ីមិនស៊ី ចាំបាច់ខ្ចប់ ”
I have witnessed many so far. It seems to be a bad habit of some cambodians. By some ways, it’s good not to waste something off 