Long Table, General Trias
One of the things I miss most about our family gatherings is what we call as the "Long Table". This is quite common on Chinese-Filipino families here in the province of Cavite. A very long table is being set up at the yard or at the driveway, lined up with chairs on opposite lengths of it.
The central chair at the end of the long table, or as called in Spanish/Filipino as the cabisera, is reserved for the head of the family which is usually the Grandparents. Aunts, Uncles, cousins and family friends happily enjoy their meal in the company of each other and even if it looks like one big table, a lot of conversations are happening at the very same time! Fun times. Question is, will traditions like these be part of the new normal?
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I feel your sentiments. Soon we will be celebrating Aidil Fitri. Not sure whether we can go back to be with our parents and family on this day or not. Forever hoping. Guess, things may change a little in the way we greet our family members. No handshake or rubbing cheeks. Still need to check distance.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lili and we are in the very same condition. I very much agree with having new measures now in greeting our dear loved ones. It's sad that Eid Al-Fitr will be different this year for you my Muslim brothers and sisters, but I am sure you will still celebrate it with your hearts and faith the same strength it is :)
DeleteI hope one day soon we will be able to get back together again like that. I have great memories of when my parents were still alive and the whole family would gather around like that. There would be so much laughter - and so much noise! Stay safe, Mxx
ReplyDeleteI really wish that too Margaret! Especially when family get together, you'll get to know how much you miss them when they suddenly appear in front of you after a long absence. Stay safe dear Margaret, wish you a happy Thursday!
DeleteSadly Uncles and Aunts, cousins are all over the place and we only met at my Grandma´s Birthdays and at my parent´s funerals.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of them since.
But I bet soon you will enjoy a long table again, Stevenson!
A happy Thursday to you, enjoy your garden :-)
That is sad my dear frined Iris, But I am very sure that they all remember you wherever they may be. It's been a tough week for me at work but I'm happy it's Saturday!
DeleteHappy Weekend Iris!
I feel the excitement in the photos you included, Stevenson.
ReplyDeleteThe moment of gathering together in your family reminds us of the habits of our extended family on the part of my mother's family who are of Chinnese descent.
Every Chinese New Year we gather large families in the restaurant, also exchanging gifts to further strengthen family relations.
Greetings to your family.
Thank you very much Himawan! I'm glad and happy to hear that we both have Chinese heritage and culture. The family really is as extended as it can possibly be in the Chinese culture. I love your restaurant gatherings because we also do that before when there are birthdays :)
DeleteI do love big family reunions. With my family spread all over the world it's not often we get everybody together, but it's great when we do. Because we only have a son, daughter in law and small grandkids here, I enjoy inviting friends along to our celebrations, so there are lots of people around the table. Hope you can get to enjoy those family reunions soon Stevenson.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sami! It's a bit hard to gather family members from around the world but surely even if one or two would join you from another place, that would be an amazing reunion in itself :) Thank you so much and I really hope so too! I miss my crazy cousins so much!
DeleteHello, love the photo of everyone gathered at the long table. A meal with family and friends is fun! Will we ever be able to go back to our old normal. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend ahead.
ReplyDeleteThat is also a big realization and question on my mind every single day Eileen. But I pray that we all will :) And hopefully, very soon!
DeleteI really hope so SQ, the long table is such a fun way for family and friends to enjoy a meal together, having a big family myself this is how we do it also, so much fun. Oh my gosh I can't believe your temperatures, that is even hotter than it gets here. I hope you have a good way to keep cool 😱
ReplyDeleteBig family banquets are blessings to us Grace. They keep ourselves joined with our family and also make memories with them. Yes Grace, it rained a lot today which was weird but is something all of us have been praying for.
Delete...and I miss this too. This Sunday is Mother's Day and days after is my Wife's birthday, we will be celebrating, but not together!
ReplyDeleteOh please extend my happy birthday wishes for your Wife Tom! I wish her the best of health and happiness and may her wishes for this coming new year in her life all come true!
DeleteI do so hope these can be a part of the life after this is over...it is too good not to continue. but it may be a while...
ReplyDeleteTruly as you said, it may be a while Rose. But let's not stop hoping and praying that it will all be well again in time.
DeleteFamily get togethers are a lovely celebration of life. I enjoyed them growing up. I love the concept of the long table. What a nice memory to have.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, take care and stay safe!
All my pleasure my friend Bill and I am glad you also had such beautiful memories with your family!
DeleteI love the tradition of the long table. I'd not heard of it before but it is so beautiful, so meaningful to a family. I think it may be quite awhile before there is a long table as you know it now, and that is so very sad. I suspect it might be a twice-as-long table, set up in a U or T-shape, with six feet between each chair. People will talk over a longer space, the intimate distance of side-by-side put off for awhile. But you know, that would be better than no long table at all. How I miss my family.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Jeanie! Very much agree, it will be a meal with social distancing in these coming days. And yes, your idea of it is very helpful and something we can do for the mean time than none at all. I miss my cousins so much! Thank you so much dear Jeanie and Happy Sunday!
DeleteI like this long table idea. And the name. We used to do this with family when I was a kid, but we didn't have a name for it. I wonder how this will end up being in our new world. Happy weekend. Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend Erika and I am very happy you also have this tradition :) It is very fun and memorable and hopefully, in time, we can all have our own versions soon :)
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