Strange wedding customs across Thailand
Thailand is a multi-ethnic country. All ethnic groups and regions still retain the unique wedding etiquette of their own ethnic groups and regions. It can be said to be colorful and colorful. Thailand is also known as the "Yellow-robed Buddhist Country". Buddhism is designated as the state religion. Every man reaches a certain age, he must become a monk once, for at least three months, at most three to five years, or even for life, even the king. No exception. If a man has never been a monk, he cannot be regarded as an adult. Not only are relatives and friends looked down on him, but it is even difficult to find a partner. Buddhist etiquette has penetrated into social life and formed traditional customs, which are also clearly manifested in marriage ceremonies. Thailand is a multi-ethnic country. All ethnic groups and regions still retain the unique marriage etiquette of their own ethnic groups and regions.
A man from Chatingpo County, Songkhla Prefecture, marries a big tree. In some places in Chatingpo County, Songkhla Prefecture, southern Thailand, some people can often be seen playing around a big tree, singing and dancing happily. It turns out that it is a local man holding a ceremony to marry a big tree. The ceremony of marrying a big tree was as grand and lively as the ceremony of marrying a real man and a woman, full of joy. According to local customs, every man over the age of 21 must hold a ceremony to marry the tree. The time for holding this ceremony is selected from June to August every year. After completing the ceremony, he became a monk until he returned to secular life and fell in love and married a woman to establish a family.
To marry a big tree, the betrothal gift given by the man must be served in a large silver bowl, called Nicha. Nichma consists of Nichma flowers and Nichma vegetables. Nema flowers are usually 25 areca nuts. Most of the kima dishes are popular among local people, such as "cake", doughnuts, rice candy, snacks, chicken, coconut, pillows, mats, candles, etc.
Before the wedding ceremony began, the bridegroom, wearing a gorgeous wedding dress, surrounded by dozens of dressed girls, walked away from home and headed towards the place where the ceremony was held. The girls held horses on their heads, twisted their waists, and danced lightly as they walked. The groom wore a sharp sword at his waist and had a serious expression on his face, making him look majestic and solemn. When the groom and his party came to the big tree selected by the village elders, the girls displayed the betrothal gift in front of the "bride tree".
When the elderly announced the beginning of the wedding ceremony, the groom took out a dozen candles, lit them one by one, and placed them next to each shrine one by one. Then the elderly recited the relevant chapters of the scripture. Then, the groom's father placed some flowers, betel nuts and a few silver coins on the pillow of Kamali, and the oldest old woman in the village came out to accept the gifts on behalf of the head of the "Bride Tree". When the candle goes out, the wedding ceremony ends. The elders who presided over the ceremony placed the food stalls they brought on banana leaves. All those attending the wedding ceremony sat in a circle to eat and expressed good wishes to the groom.
After the food was finished, everyone sang and danced together, and they stayed happy until night fell before leaving. In local traditional concepts, trees have strong vitality. Marry a big tree and you can receive the blessing of Buddha, gain loyal love, and build a happy and happy family.
The wedding ceremony of the Pokron people living in the mountains and forests of northern Thailand is simple, warm and happy. The wedding ceremony was held at the woman's home. The wife's family has to repair the house, clean it, decorate the new house, and prepare for the wedding banquet in advance. During this period, the groom has to entrust some friends to help. On the day of the wedding, while waiting for the groom to arrive in full costumes, the bride often couldn't help but sing beautiful folk songs in order to cover her anxiety.
The groom and his party arrived and the wedding was announced to begin. People eat and drink alcohol, and beat gongs and cymbals to accompany singing. The bride and groom cannot enjoy wine and delicious food with the guests. They sit in the center of the house with a cotton blanket hanging in front of them to symbolize protection measures. The groom takes it calmly, but the bride is very shy. After the man pays the betrothal gift to the woman, the bride and groom share a meal. Subsequently, the bride washed the groom's feet with warm water to remove the dirt brought on the road; the groom gave the bride new clothes, bracelets and other things, and the bride put on new clothes and bracelets on the spot. After the ceremony, they became a couple and started a new life.
The appearance of a Pokron girl is very important because every young man wants to find a beautiful wife. When a young couple is preparing to get married, the young man will give the girl several gifts for her life, such as a necklace, betel nut box, etc., as well as some red and black cotton threads so that the girl can sew and weave the clothes she will wear after marriage. The girl gave the young man back a red shirt and a cigarette pouch she had carefully woven. The wedding is generally held one week after the man and woman present each other with tokens.
Mudu wedding customs At the end of the year and the beginning of the year, it is a good day for young men and women of the Mudu people in Thailand to talk about love. Every evening, young people flock to the open space in the jungle outside the village and light two bonfires. Men and women gather around each other, singing and dancing until late into the night. Just before breaking up, the young man suddenly snatched the headscarf of the girl he was looking for. If the girl intended, she would dress up and be shy and would not ask for her headscarf back. From then on, the young man and woman often dated. The young man used a string made of bamboo to make various insect cries to express his admiration. The girl inserted orchids in her head to symbolize her inner love for the young man. After young men and women obtain the consent of their parents, the two families can agree on a suitable day to hold the wedding.
Wedding customs of the Rua people of the mountain ethnic group in Thailand The weddings of the Rua people of the mountain ethnic group in Thailand usually choose to be held after the harvest. This ethnic group still retains the custom of "marriage grabbing". About half a year before the wedding, young men and women were engaged from maturity in love. The two sides exchanged silver pipes, tobacco and other small, exquisite and commemorative gifts. After the harvest season is over, the girl waits anxiously for the arrival of her sweetheart every day, but she has no idea which day she will be "snatched" to the man's house to be married, because the man's family strictly keeps the woman's family secret.
One night, under the cover of dark night, the groom and a dozen young men quietly came to the woman's house and crept into the girl's boudoir. The groom grabbed her wrist and, with the help of his companions, dragged the bride downstairs, and then trotted away with her. The bride "struggled" and "shouted", but to no avail. The bride's family knew what had happened, but kept silent.
After the groom and his party left, the bride's father hurriedly ran to report to the demon (the village chief, locally called the demon) that his daughter had been "snatched". The devil immediately summoned the elders in the village and rushed to the groom's house to "interrogate" him. The groom's house held a banquet to entertain the devil and his party. The groom's father came forward to accompany him and explained that his son deeply loved the girl and asked the devil and the elders to grant the young couple.
At the end of the banquet, the devil happily agreed to help and wished the newlyweds happiness. Then, the parents of both sides sat together and invited relatives of both sides to participate to discuss the bride's worth and money. After some verbal bargaining, the two sides finally determined an amount acceptable to both sides. When paying, the woman's family usually asks for more, and the man always reluctantly agrees. However, when the man pays up, the woman will refund some. The traditional concept of the Rua people believes that this will not bankrupt the man's family.
The next morning, a five-day wedding event began. The man killed pigs and brewed wine, and sent people to inform relatives and friends far and far, inviting them to come and participate in the grand event. People from the village came to help, building a new house for the newlyweds near the man's house. The wedding banquet of the Rua people was very sumptuous. In order to prepare the banquet, many pigs, cattle, chickens, as well as a large amount of rice, vegetables, wine, fruits, etc. were slaughtered. There were many participants, the scene was grand and the cost was huge.