MITARI-BADY TSY LASAM-BODIONDRY
do you know this saying?
Malagasy people were very respectful of tradition. For example, they got engaged
before they held hands in public in the old times. So if a man lived with his mistress without being married or even engaged, in the Merina tribe - whereas in the other tribes, the man could try his future wife for a certain period of time- this saying was appropriate for their situation.
The "vodiondry" is a sum of money given to the parents of the girl to somehow reimburse them for all they have spent on her. It is a symbol of engagement for the future bridegroom.
The vodiakoho is really given to the parents when they and their children share a chicken in a meal, otherwise it is substituted with a sum of money called "solombodiakoho" on the new years's day or any special feast.
The saying is: mitari-bady tsy lasam-bodiondry (or tsy lasa vodiondry), henatra eo amin'ny tany ama-monina.
