Wedding Ceremony
Getting married
is an important event in a Vietnamese’s life. The procedure of the
ancient wedding ceremony was very complicated. Current wedding
ceremony procedures include the following steps: the search for a
husband or wife, the proposal, the registration, and finally the
wedding.
Depending
on habits of specific ethnic groups, marriage includes various steps
and related procedures, but generally there are two main ceremonies:
Le an hoi
(betrothal ceremony): Some time before the wedding, the
groom and his family visit the bride and her family with round
lacquered boxes known as betrothal presents composed of gifts of
areca nuts and betel leaves, tea, cake, fruits, wines and other
delicacies covered with red cloth and carried by unmarried girls or
boys. Both families agree to pick a good day for wedding.
Le cuoi
(wedding ceremony): Guests would be invited to come to join
a party and celebrate the couple’s happiness. The couple should pray
before the altar asking their ancestors for permission for their
marriage, then to express their gratitude to both groom’s and
bride’s parents for raising and protecting them. Guests will share
their joy at a party later.
