Metatah, Tooth Filing Ceremony

Metatah, mepandes or mesangih are the local words for tooth filing ceremony, one of the important ceremonies in Balinese life. The ceremony is performed for Hindu Balinese when they come of age. Even though, it doesn’t mean that this ceremony must be done as soon as the children had reach his/her puberty. Many Balinese have this ceremony done after few years, even after they got married and have children. Many reasons why Balinese family don’t do this ceremony as soon as their children get puberty, one of them is financial to cover expenses as when they perform metatah (due to the customary local community) they usually invite all relatives, friends and banjar (community member of the village where they live) as well.

Metatah ceremony can be carry out at home as a family feast, or at grya (high priest house) which is the simplest one, private and invite nobody, or join ‘collective metatah’ in the village, coordinated by the banjar(community council). However, it doesn’t necessary all about money if someone do not do metatah at home but join collective metatah or at grya.

Metatah is an important ceremony for Balinese. Every Hindu Balinese undergo metatah in their life. In case if somebody die and they have no metatah ceremony yet, the family will do this ceremony before bury their body so they soul can meet their parents’ soul afterlife.

Metatah ceremony is symbolic to release someone from ‘sad ripu‘ shackle (six negative characters of human): Kama (negative desire), lobha (greed), krodha (anger and cruelty), mada (intoxication and madness), moha (confusion), and matsarya (jeaulosy).

Casa Mateo – Guest 30th Birthday Party

Casa Mateo glad to help and arrange every single our guest special request. One of them request, on last March 24th, 2018 we arrange for 30th Birthday Party with outdoor white theme complete with DJ music performance, bartender for serve any kind of cocktail, and any other small surprise.

Complete with BBQ Western Dinner menu that prepared from our professional chef make their party complete.Casa Mateo always serve all the guest staying with professional way and keep for guest satisfaction is one of our vision.

Surprise Birthday Cake from the Villa Team

Bartender in service

Guest During Party

Casa Mateo is one of luxury Villas located in Seminyak area and suit for big group or big family to accommodate them. With large garden make Casa Mateo has very nice venue for make  an event like Wedding, gathering and birthday.

Please visit our website for the detail: https://www.balicasa.net

Ubud Food Festival

Ubud Food Festival returns this year on April 13-15, 2018, as a celebration of diverse Indonesian cuisine and local produce, while also serving as a gathering of the island’s most prominent chefs through a variety of presentations, live cooking demonstrations and culinary tours. This year’s festival once again brings together a host of restaurateurs, food producers, professionals and celebrated figures in the Indonesian food and beverage industry.

The annual event is held over the three days, besides offering you the opportunity to discover the wealth and variety of Indonesian cuisine, the Ubud Food Festival also features special events such as organic and culinary markets that allow you to discover and purchase the freshest farm items from the island’s best producers. Side events also include live music concerts highlighting local bands, as well as yoga, film screenings and food photography workshops.

Tickets are available at the festival’s box office at Taman Kuliner on Ubud’s Jalan Raya Sanggingan, or directly at the special event venues throughout Ubud. This festival hub will also be open as the main venue where free events and hosted talks are held, and where public visitors can enjoy food and drinks, as well as the live music highlights and fresh market bazaars.

 

Isra and Mi’raj

Isra and Mi’raj, also known as Al Isra’ wal Miraj, is observed on the 27th day of the month of Rajab, the seventh month in the Islamic calendar. This event marks the night that Allah (God) took Mohammad (also known as Mohamed or Muhammed) on a journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven.

What Do People Do

Customs around Isra and Mi’raj vary between different Islamic communities. Some people spend the evening or night listening to or studying the story of Isra and Mi’raj in a mosque or at home. They may also decorate their homes or communities with candles or small electric lights and share food, particularly sweets, with each other or prepare a communal meal. People in some communities make a special effort to include children in the celebrations and explain the story of Mohammad’s journey.

Public Life

Isra and Mi’raj is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. However, there may be some local congestion in the evening on roads around major mosques.

Background

The Prophet Mohammad (also written as Muhammad) lived in and around the area that is now Saudi Arabia in the years 570 CE to 632 CE in the Gregorian calendar. According to Islamic belief, God (Allah) took him on a two-part journey sometime around the year 620 CE. The first part of the journey, known as Isra, was from Mecca to the “furthest” mosque. There is some debate about the “furthest” mosque’s location. Some Muslims believe that it signifies a mosque that was far away from Mecca, while others believe that is was the Dome of the Rock (Masjid Qubbat As-Sakhrah) on the Temple Mount (Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem.

It is believed that Mohammad was shown heaven and hell in the second part of the journey, known as Mi’raj. He talked with many prophets, including Jesus and Moses, in heaven. He also received instructions on Islamic prayer. Mohammad returned to Mecca before the end of the night. Some Islamic scholars regard Mohammed’s journey as a spiritual experience while others see it as a physical journey. His journey is remembered and commemorated on Isra and Mi’raj.

Omed – Omedan, A Unique Tradition From Bali

Indonesia is a rich country not only in natural capital but also in many traditions. We can see that all places in Indonesia have their own traditions that are different each other. In this occasion, I will give the example of tradition that is held in Bali. Of course this island is very famous not only in Indonesia itself but also in the world.

If people from foreign countries hear about Indonesia, many of them think automatically about Bali. This Island is well-known as an island which has many unique traditions. Every part related to Bali Island can attract the tourists from foreign countries. One thing that makes many tourists attract in Bali is that they can involve directly toward the traditions that people do.

There is a “unique tradition Omed-omedan in Bali, Indonesia”. This tradition is held once a year after Nyepi. That tradition is held in Sesetan village, and of course just in that village. Omed-omedan comes from the word omed that means “to pull”.

Therefore, Omed-omedan means ‘to pull one another’. In other word, Omed-omedan is a tradition where a man and a girl are raised. Then, both of them hug and kiss one another. Kissing? Yes, kissing one another. That is a fact.

The History of Omed-Omedan Kissing Festival

The unique tradition Omed-omedan in Bali, Indonesia was held since a long time ago. Firstly this unique tradition was held by the people from Puri Oka, a kingdom in Bali.

After celebrating Nyepi, the people from Puri Oka did the celebration named Omed-omedan. They were very enthusiastic in celebrating Omed-omed. Then, that celebration became noisy.

At that moment, the king of Puri Oka kingdom was sick. The king was very angry because the celebration was very noisy. Then, he came out to see the celebration. He would scold his people. However, after seeing the celebration, Omed-omedan, he felt better and became healthy.

Then, the king did not scold his people and allowed the people to celebrate Omed-omedan. Since then, that tradition is held regularly every year. Some people believe that if this tradition is not held every year, something worst will happen.

In 1970, Omed-omedan was not held because of a certain reason. Then, there was an incident. There were two pigs that fight in the yard of Pura. Both pigs got a serious wound.

Later, both disappeared. People thought that it could be a bad sign. Because of that incident, Omed-omedan is held again until now.

The Steps in Celebrating Omed-omedan:

As stated before, this unique tradition Omed-omedan in Bali, Indonesia is held once a year. This tradition is not held just hugging and kissing. However, there are some steps to do. Firstly, there is a certain ritual to do. Then, Barong bakung dancing is performed to recall the incident of two pigs that fought one another.

After that, the people are divided into two groups: first group consists of young men, and the second group consists of young girls. Both group line up face to face. Then, two people, man and girl, will be selected alternately, lifted up, and paraded in the front position.

After that, they hug and kiss one another. When they do so, each group will pull to separate one another. If they cannot be separated, they will be flushed with water.

Rahajeng Nyanggra Rahina Nyepi Caka 1940

It was an amazing experience to witness the Melasti ceremony by the sea all over Bali yesterday. This purification ceremony marks the start of Seclusion Day in Bali. It is meant to clean all nature and its content so we can be closer to God. Today, all villages in Bali will hold an exorcism ceremony at the main village crossroad – believed to be the meeting place of demons. In the evening, every village will hold an Ogoh-Ogoh carnival. Each one takes pride in making the scariest paper mache giant, while the kids and teens will have their own take of Ogoh-Ogoh, sometimes in the shape of SpongeBob or Spiderman. The Ogoh-ogoh parade will be carried around the village, with the sweet sound of Bleganjur accompanying the procession. Afterward, each house will celebrate Ngerupuk by making noises and lighting torches to scare off the demons. The peak will be when they set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh as a symbol of getting all evil spirit from their lives.

After all the festivities, comes the silence. The Ngurai Rai International Airport will be closed for 24 hours. The internet by communications provider will be shut down. People are to remain in their houses while following the Catur Brata or four rules. Amati Geni – no fire, light or electronic devices. Amati Karya – no work and no physical activity. Amati Lelanguan – no entertainment. Amati Lelungaan – no travel. For one whole day, all Hindus will have the time to reflect and to get closer to God. If you are traveling to Bali during Nyepi, then do respect this day. Those staying in hotels can still do various activities and enjoy minimum entertainment. At night, don’t forget to go to your garden or rooftop, because this is the one day of the year where Bali is pitch black and you get to see the stars (lots of them). Have a great Seclusion Day, everyone.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in modern China, or simply the Lunar New Year, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening proceeding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between 21 Jan and 20 Feb. The New Year festival is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and customs. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors. Lunar New Year is celebrated in other Asian countries and territories, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius, Australia, and the Philippines. Lunar New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.

Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Lunar New Year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Lunar New Year’s Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly clean the house, something which in Chinese culture is only done once per year. Many Chinese restaurants will also use the New Year to clean as well in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck– or just because a good cleaning is necessary. Windows and doors are decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “good fortune” or “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes. In about one third of the Mainland population, or 500 million Northerners, dumplings (especially those of vegetarian fillings) feature prominently in the meals celebrating the festival.

It is one of the world’s most prominent and celebrated festivals, with the “largest annual mass human migration in the world”.

 

Casa Mateo – Christmas Guest

If you’re dreaming of a bright Christmas instead of white, if you’re ready to exchange snow for sands and sunshine, Bali could be your Christmas paradise. Despite being predominantly Hindu, Christmas has become one of the most festive and touristy occasions in Bali. From shopping to charity, discover how to spend the holiday season in Bali.Casa Mateo is one of the unique place to celebrate your Christmas with your Family or your friends. We are 5 Bedroom Luxury Villas with Private Pool and Jacuzzi can accommodate for 10 adults. If you bring more than 10 group we still have mezzanine room on the top of rooftop and ideally for 12 adults.

With nice and professional team,  we will arrange and make your Christmas memorable. BBQ Lunch or Dinner Party is the option for you.

This is our Guest that Celebrate the Christmas in Bali with Casa Mateo and team with BBQ Lunch. They also prepare some Christmas accessories and play a trumpet. All guest happy together and this is show you that Bali still save for visit and save for tourism.

Guest BBQ Lunch

Christmas Decoration Table with some accessories and trumpet

BBQ

Casa Mateo – Wedding Client

A wedding is a ceremony where two people or a couple are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vows by the couple, presentation of a gift (offering, ring(s), symbolic item, flowers, money), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or celebrant. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is sometimes followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers or readings from religious texts or literature are also commonly incorporated into the ceremony.

Casa Mateo just got the opportunity to handle wedding from our Spain Client. This wedding are mix culture wedding between Spain and Indonesia. We are happy that we can do our best to make the success wedding  for our client, starting from preparation until wedding day.

Our villa team do their best to set up all the decoration and dinner with perfect time.

Dinner Table

Dinner Buffet

Chapel Decoration

Welcome Food

Casa Mateo – Guest Birthday Party

Casa Mateo glad to help and arrange every single our guest special request. One of them request, we have Guest Birthday Party with Balinese Dancer Performance for the entertainment.

Welcome dance performance

Guest join with the dancer and take some picture

For this request they choose Jungle view theme and our team make the decoration as perfect as their request. This is our guest’s husband 40th years old party.

Jungle decoration theme

Dinning table decoration

Complete with BBQ Western Dinner menu that prepared from our professional chef make their party complete.Casa Mateo always serve all the guest staying with professional way and keep for guest satisfaction is one of our vision.

Western BBQ Dinner Menu

Guest Dinner

Surprise Birthday Cake from the Dancer