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contain the Pope’s profound meanings of family as a community of persons,
family as a Sanctuary of Life, and marriage open to life, and that these
meanings are inherent in these customs. Some of these meanings are very
clearly expressed and celebrated on special occasions such as marriage,
pregnancy, death. These customs also express the idea that the family is a
treasury of Christian values and a school of value education where life is
transmitted to and transformed into an authentic person.

3.6.1 General Characteristics of Family Customs

Although these family customs are performed in different situations
of life, some common characteristics can be found in them: special hymns,
asking permission from the assembly, giving a special role to women and
elders. The marriage celebration is one such occasion where all these factors
are clearly seen.

3.6.1.1 Special Hymns or Songs

An interesting and attractive factor in almost all these ceremonies is
that all of them have special songs to be sung by men or women at
6
appropriate times. These songs are very ancient and are, in fact, the earliest
sources available concerning the early history and traditions of the
7
Southists. These ancient songs are called in the native language Malayalam
8
as Purātanappāttukal. The so-called ancient songs contain folklore about
the faith and morals, customs and practices of this community and St.
9
Thomas Christians in general. More than mere songs, these are also prayers
and hymns containing theological and Biblical truths. The bridal songs
describe the wedding festivities, invoke God’s blessings on the couple or
impart instructions to the bride as to how to be a good wife. Folk tales and

6 Cf. VELLIAN, J., Knānite Community History and Culture, Syrian Church Series Vol.
XVII, Jyothi Book House, Kottayam, 2001, p. 22.
7 Cf. KOLLAPARAMBIL, J., The Babylonian Origin of the Southists Among the St
Thomas Christians, Pont. Institutum Orientalium, Roma, 1992, p. XXIV.
8 A large collection of them gathered from cadjan(palm leaves) manuscripts was printed
and published by P. U. LUKAS in 1910 under the title, Malayālatte Suriyāni
Kristyānikalute Purātanappāttukal (Ancient songs of the Syrian Christians of Malayalam).
Later it is edited by J. VELLIAN (Kottayam). Christian Folk Songs by C. CHOONDAL
(Trichur 1983) is a study on these songs with English translations of a very few of them.
9
Cf. KOLLAPARAMBIL, J., The Babylonian Origin of the Southists Among the St
Thomas Christians, Pont. Institutum Orientalium, Roma, 1992, p. XXIV. See foot note no.
1.

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