Strange wedding customs unique to Vietnam.

The "husband-catching" festival in the Central Highlands, the custom of patting buttocks to choose a wife, the three-year marriage proposal custom of the Thai people, etc., are some of the strange marriage proposal customs of ethnic groups in Vietnam. These customs have created a rich and diverse cultural tapestry of these ethnic groups.

1. The custom of "sleeping together" among Muong men.

This is a long-standing custom of the Muong people. According to this custom, young men who have reached adulthood are allowed to visit and "sleep over" at the home of a girl they like. At night, the girls usually light a lamp as a "signal" for the boys to come and "sleep over." If the lamp in the girl's room is still lit, it means no one has come to "sleep over," and the boy must pry open the door to enter the house.

Many people end up getting married (illustrative image: Internet)

After five "visiting nights," if both agree, the young man and his family will go to the girl's house to ask for her hand in marriage. During these "visiting nights," the two are only allowed to talk and confide in each other, without touching. This custom is still maintained in some places today.

2. The "Husband-Catching" Festival in the Central Highlands

The custom of "husband abduction" is no longer unfamiliar to many people, as it is quite well-known among the Chu Ru, Cil, and Co Ho ethnic groups in the Central Highlands. Every year, from the first day of the Lunar New Year until the end of March, the "husband abduction" festival is held in these ethnic regions.

Illustration photo: Internet

According to tradition, the "husband-catching" festival takes place at night, and the girls are the ones who take the initiative in finding a husband. When they find a suitable man, they inform their families. If both families agree, the girl will bring a ring to give to the man on a predetermined day. If they do not agree, the man can return the ring.

However, after another 7 days, the girl came again and put the ring on the boy's finger. This continued until the boy agreed.

After the son agrees, the wedding will be held. The day before the wedding, the village holds a festival called "The Night of Catching the Husband." During this festival, the young man and woman must recite some customary laws of their people. On the wedding day, both wear their rings again, and after seven days, the girl takes off her ring to give to her mother-in-law, while the boy takes off his ring and gives it to his mother-in-law.

3. The Paco people's custom of having two weddings.

The Paco people, residing in the mountainous regions of Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces, traditionally had a double wedding ceremony. In the first ceremony, the groom's family would bring valuable gifts such as buffaloes, cows, copper pots, sticky rice, and wine. Upon arriving at the groom's house, the young couple would hold a "kitchen-breaking" ceremony, bringing each other back to the bride's family to introduce themselves. From that point on, the girl officially joined the groom's family.

Illustration photo: Internet

After the wedding, both partners must work to repay the dowry debt and perform the Pầy Ploh ceremony, which means a complete ending, also known as the "buying the head" ceremony.

4. The Ha Giang custom of patting the buttocks to choose a wife.

According to the customs of the Hmong people in Ha Giang, the end-of-year market period is the best time for young men and women to find each other. Besides the famous custom of ambushing and kidnapping brides, there is also the custom of "patting the buttocks" to choose a life partner.

On New Year's Day, the most handsome young men and beautiful young women gather in the courtyard to play hide-and-seek. After toasting with drinks for a prosperous new year, they look for a life partner. If they agree, the girl runs away, and the boy's task is to chase her. The condition is that both must run as fast as they can. If the boy catches up with the girl and pats her on the buttocks, it means she is about to become his wife.

Illustration photo: Internet

In fact, it's not by chance that Hmong men and women find each other and perform this custom. Those participating in this custom usually get to know each other beforehand and agree to it. The butt-slapping is just an excuse for the two to meet again, giving the young man an opportunity to show his affection and prowess in front of the girl and those around them.

5. Thai men live with their wives' families for three years before they can get married.

For Thai ethnic men, getting married involves a very long and arduous process. When a young man approves of a girl, he informs his parents to arrange the marriage. Afterward, he must stay at the girl's house for three months, living in the guest room and only being allowed to bring one knife for work.

Illustration photo: Internet

After that period, if the girl's parents agree, the young man will return to inform his own parents. Only then can he bring his belongings to the girl's house and stay there for three years. After three 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 continues to live with the bride's family for 1 to 10 years and is only allowed to take his wife back to his own home after a solemn wedding ceremony.

According to Dan Tri