Strange wedding customs only found in Vietnam

The husband-catching festival in the Central Highlands, the custom of slapping buttocks to choose a wife, the 3-year marriage custom of the Thai people, etc. are strange marriage proposal customs of ethnic groups in Vietnam. These customs have created richness and diversity in the cultural colors of ethnic groups.

1. The custom of "trial sleeping" of Muong men

This is a long-standing custom of the Muong people. Accordingly, boys who have reached adulthood are allowed to “visit” the house of the girl they like. At night, the girls often light a lamp, which is considered a “signal” for the boys to come and “visit”. If the light in the girl’s room is still on, meaning no one has come to “visit” yet, the boy must pry open the door to enter the house.

Many people get married (illustrative photo: Internet)

After 5 visits to the bride’s house, if both of them like each other, the groom will go with his family to the bride’s house to ask for her hand in marriage. During these visits, the couple are only allowed to talk and confide in each other but are not allowed to touch each other. This custom is still maintained in some places today.

2. Husband-catching festival in the Central Highlands

Husband-catching is no longer a strange custom to many people, because this custom is quite famous among the Chu Ru, Cil, Co Ho ethnic groups in the Central Highlands. Every year, starting from the first day of the Lunar New Year until the end of March, the husband-catching festival is held in these ethnic regions.

Illustration: Internet

According to the rules, the husband-catching festival takes place at night and the girls will be the ones to take the initiative in finding a husband. When they find a suitable boy, the girls will inform their families. If they receive the consent of both families, the girl will bring a ring to put on the boy on a set day. If they do not agree, the boy can return the ring.

However, after the next 7 days, the girl came again and put the ring on the boy. This continued until the boy agreed.

After the man agrees, the wedding will be held. One day before the wedding, the village organizes a festival called "Husband Catching Festival". During this festival, the man and the woman must recite some of their own customary laws. On the wedding day, both of them put their rings back on and after 7 days, the woman takes off her ring and gives it to her mother-in-law, while the man takes off his ring and gives it to his mother-in-law.

3. The Paco people's double marriage custom

The Paco people living in the mountainous areas of Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces used to have a custom of getting married twice. The first time, the groom's family brought valuable gifts such as buffaloes, cows, copper pots, sticky rice wine, etc. When they arrived at the husband's house, the young couple had to hold a "stepping on the stove" ceremony, bringing each other to the bride's house to introduce themselves to her family. From then on, the girl officially joined the groom's family.

Illustration: Internet

After the wedding day, both couples must work to pay off the dowry and perform the Pay Ploh ceremony, which means complete completion, also known as the "buying the head" ceremony.

4. The Ha Giang people choose their wives by patting their buttocks

According to the customs of the Mong people in Ha Giang, the end-of-year market period is the best time for young men and women to find each other. In addition to the famous custom of blocking the road to steal the bride, there is also the custom of "spanking the buttocks" to choose a life partner.

On the first morning of the year, the most beautiful young men and women gather in the yard to play hide-and-seek. After a few glasses of wine toasting a good new year, they look for a partner. If they like each other, the girl will run away and the boy's task is to chase after her. The condition is that both of them must run with all their might. If the boy catches up with the girl and puts his hand on her butt, it means that this girl is about to become his wife.

Illustration: Internet

Actually, it is not by chance that Mong boys and girls find each other and perform the above custom. Those who participate in this custom usually have known each other beforehand and agreed to each other. Butt slapping is just an excuse for the two to meet again, the boy has the opportunity to show his feelings and abilities in front of the girl and those around him.

5. Thai men have to live with their wife's family for 3 years before they can get married.

For Thai ethnic men, to get married, they have to go through a very long process of testing. When they like a girl, the boy will tell his parents to arrange the marriage. After that, the boy must go to the girl's house for 3 months, live in the guest room and is only allowed to bring a knife for work.

Illustration: Internet

After that time, if the girl's parents agree, the boy will return to inform his parents. At this time, the boy can bring his luggage to the girl's house and stay there for 3 years. After 3 years of living with the girl's family, the wedding ceremony will officially take place.

If the girl does not agree to the marriage, she will cut her own hair. After the wedding, the groom will continue to live with the bride's family for 1 to 10 years and is only allowed to take his wife to his own house after a solemn wedding ceremony.

According to Dan Tri