The word “Tevu” is to spread and tevutevu is the spreading or showcasing of gifts (western and traditional gifts), that is fine mats, masi, pillows, blankets, kitchen wear etc and the dowries: whale’s teeth, pigs, root crops etc…that each respective side of the family present to show how dear their daughter or son is.
* Arrived at Phi’sl, we had our designated canopy to gather and prepare at….So all the gifts (in black garage bags by now) were separated, the ones for Matha, that gets to be show cased in the in laws home, and the ones that were given to the tribe/extended family (2nd part of the ceremony).
*The gifts were divided into two, one set is for the couple, those are the ones that were spread in Phil’s living room, and the 2nd set of gifts were for the extended family. These were the gifts that were presented in the outside canopy (during my 2nd traditional dressing).
I was dressed twice on Friday, Nov 15th…. 1st was in Tongan fine mats decorated in feathers, in which I was honoring my late great grand mother, my mom’s grand mother who was Tongan.
So entering my husband’s family home for the 1st time is one of the most important part of a traditional fijian wedding, & dressing up in traditional costume is an honor, so this is an event that each side of the family prepare for, for months, sometimes years, as it takes time to make the traditional mats and prepare for everything.