Peucicap - Local Wisdom for Introducing Food Flavors to Babies

One of the local wisdom or traditional ceremonies in Aceh is "peucicap", a ceremony to introduce the taste of food to babies. Usually, this ceremony is performed when the baby is under one year old. Some perform the ceremony when the baby is only 7 days old (the youngest age) or when the baby is 7 months old. This depends on the readiness of the baby's parents.

Several flavors of food are introduced to the baby, namely sweet, sour, and salty. These three flavors come from food, drinks, and fresh fruits. However, some give fried fish, grilled chicken, honey, and chicken liver.

These foods and fruits are very diverse. Fruits with a sweet taste include mango, sugar cane, rambutan, grapes, and other fruits. The philosophical meaning is for the child to have good morals when they grow up. A good deed is identified with a sweet taste.

Babies are also introduced to sour and salty flavors. These can be obtained from processed foods, such as grilled chicken, fried fish, and sour-tasting fruits. The philosophical meaning is that the baby can live in the wider community and socialize well.

The tradition of "peucicap" is still practiced in Aceh. We must keep this local wisdom well preserved. Every country has its own unique local wisdom. The local wisdom does not hurt humans or violate human rights.

"Peucicap" has been passed down from our ancestors. I am still determining when exactly the tradition started.

How it works

A religious scholar usually leads the "peucicap" process. The pious person recites good prayers for the baby. He gives the baby something sweet by putting his finger in the baby's mouth. Many babies sometimes cry because so many people watch the tradition that it makes the baby feel sultry or unusual.

When the baby cries, the mother gives it formula milk. When the baby calms down, the tradition resumes with other flavors.

You can see how these black-and-white photos carry out the "peucicap" process. I dedicate them to the Black and White Communities. All the photos were taken using a Nikon D5500 camera.