Unique small weddings, big weddings of Thai people in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - The Thai people in Nghe An are not only known as a community that still preserves the unique brocade weaving craft, but also have many strange features in their wedding customs.

One early winter day, following National Highway 16 from Muong Xen town (Ky Son), we entered Keo Luc 1 village (Pha Danh commune). This is home to 40 Thai households and is also the place that still preserves the famous traditional silkworm breeding and brocade weaving profession of the border district of Ky Son.

Entering Mr. Vi Van Ban's house, he was busy preparing to brew some jars of fragrant rice wine. We thought he was preparing rice wine for Tet, but he said that his family was about to have a wedding for his daughter. Looking around and not seeing the bride, we were surprised and asked, he pointed to the girl standing next to him holding a baby about 1 year old and said: "She's holding the baby. Last year we had a small wedding and now we're having a big wedding."

Mr. Vi Van Ban prepares to brew rice wine for his daughter's wedding. Photo: Dao Tho

Mr. Ban said that his daughter, Vi Thi Giang, married a man named Luong Van May from Pieng Hom village in the same commune. Because the groom's financial situation was difficult, he could only raise a pig last year, so he asked the bride's family to let him have a small wedding as a way to introduce them to the villagers. After registering their marriage, the groom has been living here for a year and the two have a child together.

Bride Vi Thi Giang has a nearly 1-year-old child. Photo: Dao Tho

According to custom, this year the groom has prepared all the gifts so he should find a matchmaker to discuss the engagement ceremony and the big wedding.

The engagement ceremony of the Thai people is also very simple, the matchmaker only needs to bring betel and tobacco to talk to the bride's family. However, according to matchmaker Luong Van Phin, the Thai people who come to the engagement ceremony must weave a small basket the size of three fingers and put gifts such as betel, wild herbs, and tobacco in it. This is a custom passed down from ancient times.

Engagement gifts of Thai people. Photo: Dao Tho

After the bride's family accepts the engagement ceremony from the groom's family, the big wedding date, also known as the official wedding, is set. "If the groom is not yet in a position to have a big wedding, the bride's family is willing to postpone it. The time is not important, but it must be done. Only then will the two be truly recognized as husband and wife," said Mr. Vi Van Ban.

Matchmaker Luong Van Phin presents engagement gifts to the bride's family. Photo: Dao Tho

After the engagement, the Thai people hold a big wedding. This is when the bride and groom are officially recognized as husband and wife. Depending on the groom's family's circumstances, the bride's family will set the dowry conditions. According to the Thai village elders, in the past, the bride's dowry was mainly in silver bars and buffaloes, cows, and pigs, but now they only need a little cash and enough food for both families to sit down.

In a big wedding, people will kill buffalo, cows, pigs, and chickens to prepare a feast to entertain guests from both sides and the villagers. Of course, it depends on the economic conditions of the groom and the groom's family to prepare the food and set up the feast. It may only be necessary to kill a pig, a few chickens, and a few jars of rice wine to complete a big wedding. In case the bride's family's "bride price" is too high, the groom's family can "negotiate" to ask for a reduction. Currently, this custom of "bride price" is still maintained, but it mainly has spiritual meaning, not as much as before.

After the big wedding, the groom officially takes his wife home without having to live with his in-laws anymore.

These customs are a cultural feature in the life of the Thai people in Nghe An that has been preserved for generations. They have contributed to enriching the identity of this community in the Western region of Nghe An.

Dao Tho