Hair Combing Ceremony

Last night was the hair combing ceremony for Eva. When Alicia first approached me and asked if I would consent to conduct the ceremony, I thought, "Why not? It's just combing a bride-to-be's hair just before her wedding".

However, when the procedures of the ceremony was explained, it turned out to be more complex than just combing hair. It was a beautiful ceremony conducted by the girl's family to bless her before she embarked on another phase of her life.


Three bowls of dessert was prepared for the girl - made up of red dates ( symbolising sweetness); lotus seeds ( for lots of children); and gluttinous rice balls ( reunion and harmony). The girl was to hold on to a mirror as her hair was being combed ( to bless her with a bright future). A ruler was placed near her ( the ruler has the characters to bless her with 100 children and 1,000 grandchildren).

As the girl's hair was being combed, the 1st blessing was pronounced : I comb your hair from the top to the end - to wish your marriage to last to the end. The 2nd blessing was pronounced : I comb the hair to bless you with love and harmony. The 3rd blessing was pronounced; As I comb your hair, to bless you with lots of children.

After the 3 combings, a spring of cypress leave was pinned to the hair ( tied with red string) to bless the girl with good health. After the ceremony, the girl was supposed to sleep with the spring of cypress leave . Cypress leave was chosen as it does not shed its leaves even in winter, thus signifying evergreen and good health. What a touching ceremony!!

Had I heard of this ceremony nor witnessed it before this, I would have done it for my daughter's wedding. I would have made it even more meaningful and significant so that she will know that she's so much loved by her family. And the father will pray for her too. I can see that Alicia really loved her daughter so much and wished the best for her.