(Baonghean.vn) - Considered the most important ritual in every person's life, the custom of wife and husband kidnapping among some ethnic minorities in Vietnam has many strange features, causing surprise and curiosity to many people.
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| One of the long-standing and unique cultural features in the marriage of the Mong people is the custom of wife capture. This custom is a good solution for couples who are in love but still face obstacles from their families. When the boy has captured the girl and brought her home, the girl's family must agree, legalizing the couple's love and marriage. Photo: Zing. |
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| While the couple was arguing, the girl, despite knowing everything, still appeared surprised, pretending to cry, then agreed to follow the boy. The Mong people believe that by “capturing” a wife, a man can prove his sincerity to his lover, his intelligence and bravery. Photo: Zing. |
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| However, there are also cases where the girl does not agree to be captured and tries to resist or tries to escape from the boy's house or the boy intentionally lets the girl escape. After that, the boy must make a gift to the girl's house to "pay for the girl's honor". Currently, the Mong people's custom of capturing wives is controversial because there are many variations, when the girl does not agree but is forced into marriage and forced to follow a stranger. Photo: Internet. |
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| Also to make it difficult for boys and girls, the Muong people in Son Dien, Quan Son, Thanh Hoa maintain the custom of wife stealing. At night, the boy still comes to the girl's house to play. The Muong girl will receive a secret signal from her lover and the two will leave the girl's house to go to the boy's house. Early in the morning, when they realize the "signal" left by the boy, the girl's parents will know that their daughter has been stolen. The "signal" is usually left by the boy in the girl's sticky rice pot, usually about 100,000 VND. Photo: Tin Tuc Newspaper. |
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| Unlike many other ethnic groups, the Chu Ru people in the Central Highlands have a custom of capturing a husband. A young woman of marriageable age must prepare a betrothal gift at a rather expensive cost. But young women who do not have enough money to marry only need to weave three brocade scarves as a gift to the groom's family. Photo: Viettimes. |
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| According to custom, when a girl has found a man she likes, she will go home and inform her family. At night, when everyone is fast asleep, the girl and 10 family members will go to the man's house. After the man agrees to wear the ring, the girl offers a hand-woven scarf. They put it on together and officially become husband and wife. Photo: Viettimes. |
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| The Ede people follow a matriarchal system, so Ede women have great power and are always the ones to decide everything, including choosing a husband. If a girl is “interested” in a boy, she will go home and tell her parents to ask a matchmaker to go to the boy’s house to ask for his hand in marriage. Photo: Y Nguyen. |
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| The Ede wedding ceremony takes place over two days, and the bride's family always organizes it. After that, the groom must obey his wife (that is, he must follow and listen to his wife in any situation). After the wedding, the man must follow his wife to her home, and any children born must also take their mother's surname. The groom must ask permission to visit his parents, and each time the wife leaves the house, the husband must prepare the necessary items to follow his wife. Photo: Y Nguyen. |
Kim Ngoc
(Synthetic)
