Unusual Wedding Customs of the Red Dao People

On her wedding day, the bride will wear a hat adorned with 9 red scarves on her head to welcome good luck.

Unusual Wedding Customs of the Red Dao People

During a trip to the northern highlands, young lady Huynh Kien (from Quang Ngai province) attended a wedding ceremony of the Red Dao people. She shares the joyous day of the young couple with many distinct rituals from those in the lowlands:

The bride is Tan May Nhi (19 years old, from Sin Suoi Ho, Phong Tho, Lai Chau), and the groom is Tan Lo Long (22 years old, from Ban Khoang, Sa Pa, Lao Cai). After a period of courtship, both sides decided to enter into marriage. The betrothed couple are Red Dao people from different regions, making the wedding ceremony unique.

Before organizing the wedding at the groom's house, the bride's family will prepare a feast, inviting relatives and friends the day before. At this time, the bride wears traditional wedding attire of Red Dao people in Lai Chau.

The morning after, the bridal procession began. The young woman woke up early with her family members and traveled by motorbike to Ban Khoang, Sa Pa. On the way, they stopped at a crossroad near their house to have a meal. The dishes included rice, pork, chicken, and wine, all served on banana leaves. The host invited everyone to drink wine. If they encountered anyone along the road, they also invited them to join the meal. According to the customs of the Red Dao people in Lai Chau, this signified the announcement of the family's daughter getting married.

The brass band and the groom's family host went to the gate to welcome the bride's family. They carried a large basket for the bride to hold her belongings. Instead of leading her straight into the house, they moved to an empty field, where the bride changed into the traditional attire of the Red Dao people in Sa Pa before proceeding with the ceremony. During the waiting time, the groom's family offered tea and wine to each member of the bride's family.

When the bride was ready, the brass band performed ceremonial rounds around her family. Then, the members of the bride's party spontaneously paired off, and the band continued to move in circles around each pair.

The groom's family led the bride to a temporary shelter to spend the night, waiting for an auspicious hour to formally escort her into the house.

In the evening, many friends arrived, enjoying food and celebrating the wedding of the young couple. The wedding feast featured traditional dishes such as tofu, pork, chicken, vegetable soup, and pork blood pudding. At this point, the bride (with a veil covering her face) and the groom went to each table to offer wine. In return for their friends' affection, the newlyweds stood on the wedding stage, exchanging kisses to start their hundred-year relationship.

After 9 PM, all the groom's friends left, leaving only family members in the house. They continued to eat, drink, and toast each other until morning. The host of the groom's family shared congratulatory words, announcing the successful arrival of the bride.

After 10 PM, the host of the ceremony and both sides sit on the porch, weaving bamboo to remake the bride's headgear.

At 3 AM the following morning, the brass band starts playing the first notes. The bride wakes up to change clothes and put on her wedding hat. At precisely 5:45, the bride is escorted by the groom's entourage from the upper chamber to the main house. Upon reaching the main gate, the bride pauses as the host performs various rituals, including sprinkling water on her.

Subsequently, the bride is led by a Red Dao woman to the main entrance. After the groom has changed into traditional attire, he also steps out to conduct the ceremony. The couple bow and walk in a circle before the bride moves downstairs to perform the worship ceremony.

The wedding ceremony concludes with the custom of washing the face. The bride carries a basin of water for the hosts on both sides to wash right at the main entrance before proceeding to other guests.

The bride's family wraps pork to take home; those attending the wedding will receive rice and sticky rice.

According to Huynh Kien/Vnexpress

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