Traditional Acehnese Ornamental Ranup Leaves

14 days ago

How are you, friends? Best wishes to you all, wherever you are.

On this occasion, I want to show you a work of art from our region, Aceh. It could be said to be a traditional art form that has long been associated with the Acehnese people. Ornamental ranup is a gift or gift given to weddings after a wedding in Acehnese customs and culture.

The first photo in this post was sent by my younger sibling after she prepared this ornamental ranup. When I saw my younger sibling making it, it took patience and composure. The materials used are simple, but also not easy to find. One of the main ingredients is betel leaves. The betel leaves need to be folded and shaped according to the maker's wishes for the decoration.

My younger sibling made a Mekutop Cap, a traditional headdress for the groom, and it accompanies the traditional Acehnese attire. I managed to take a few photos while she was assembling it. The scattered materials included betel leaves, pandan leaves, scissors, thread, needles, pins, and several other items I missed.

Indeed, these ornamental ranup have become increasingly diverse, keeping up with the times. Previously, they only used young banana stems and betel leaves tied to them. Now, there are so many variations, depending on the desired artistry.

Here are some photos I captured of my sister making them.