Wedding customs of H’mong ethnic minority people

With the conception that the spring brings about happiness, prosperity and well-being, most H’mong ethnic minority youth decide to hold their wedding ceremonies in the season, especially on Tet (Lunar New Year).

Whenever Tet comes, H’mong boys and girls in Lao Cai and Ha Giang provinces, aged from 13-15, in beautiful new costumes go to Tet markets to meet and find their future wives and husbands.

H'Mong ethnicc minority girls going to market

The boys normally date strong girls who are thought to be good at cultivating, weaving, giving birth and taking care of children. H’mong weddings, including three rituals of engagement, betrothal and marriage ceremonies, are organised on carefully chosen days thought to be lucky days.

Before the wedding ceremony, the groom invites the elders in his family to discuss preparations of betrothal gifts, including pork, chicken, cash and indispensable things, namely pipe tobacco and corn wine. The tray of dishes to worship the ancestors, including five-coloured steamed glutinous rice and pork, is normally prepared by groom’s mother or an elderly woman in his family.

On the wedding day, relatives of the bride and groom, and local people, wear their most beautiful traditional costumes made by H’mong ethnic minority women. When the groom’s relatives gather, the head of the family hands over gifts to a matchmaker and the family members toast the groom accompanied by groomsman. Later, the family’s head also offers incense to the ancestors, the groom and groomsman bow to the ancestor and the gods under the instruction of the matchmaker who then sing the song, “Asking for a black umbrella” and receives a fabric bag with the bride’s personal items inside and an umbrella just in case it rains, from the family’s head before heading to bride’s house.

In the bride’s house, after the matchmaker has finished the song, “Asking for chairs and tables”, the feast is set for the participants and betrothal gifts are handed over to the bride’s family.

The bride, wearing her hand-made traditional costumes, sits in her room. Her mother gives her some advice for happy marriage before going to husband’s house. The groom bows to the ancestor and thanks his parents-in-law before, together with bride and the procession, touring their hamlets for locals to see. 

According the H’mong custom, the groom is not allowed to look back to his parents-in-law’s house after leaving it. The procession halts halfway for the matchmaker to perform a ritual expressing heartfelt thanks to Gods.

Before entering groom’s house, the procession stops at the front door for groom’s father to perform a spiritual ritual to drive away misfortune and welcome well-being. After the ritual, the matchmaker hands over the bride to her husband.

The wedding ceremony ends with a big feast in which bride’ and groom’s relatives and locals toast the couple’s happiness. 

Source: VnExpress.net