Wedding from the wife-capturing custom of the Mong people in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) – Wife kidnapping is a long-standing tradition of the Mong people in Nghe An. With the consent of the bride’s family, the two families hold a wedding ceremony with many unique customs and practices. This is a traditional cultural feature that creates the identity of this ethnic community.

Most of the Mong Nghe An couples get married during the first days of the spring pao throwing festival. When the girl agrees, the boy organizes the bride-catching ceremony according to custom.

On the wedding day, they invited a shaman to pray to their ancestors for their children to become husband and wife. In the photo: A shaman is holding a ceremony for a couple in Nam Can commune (Ky Son).

The meal was very simple, consisting of only white rice, a bowl of meat and a cup of wine.

After the offering in the house, the shaman brings the spoonful of rice and meat outside to invite the ancestors to enjoy.

The Mong people always reserve a part of the pig meat used in the wedding to give to the shaman to take home as payment.

A long meal before the wedding takes place for the two families to do the bride request procedure.

According to the Mong elders, in the past there were no wine cups so the Mong used bamboo instead of cups for the two families to toast each other at weddings. Currently, this custom is still preserved.

After asking for the bride, both families clasp their hands toward the altar to say beautiful words wishing for the two families' love to last forever.

Finally, the groom's family holds the umbrella that holds the souls of the couple and chants for the groom to bow to the ancestors of the bride's family.

The happiness of a young couple on their wedding day. This is a traditional cultural feature that creates the identity of the Mong community in Western Nghe An.

Dao Tho