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Vietnamese Marriage Rites
Vietnamese Marriage Rites
Vietnamese Marriage Rites
- An Giang
Multicultural World
Moreover, many people believed that predestined affinity was arranged by God and
that who married who was a work of the personage in heaven.
As with any people and in every country, wedding customs in Vietnam were
formed centuries ago. Though Vietnamese wedding customs were more or less
influenced by East-Asian thoughts and customs, esp. From China, they bear very own
characteristics and popularities of Vietnam. According to ancient customs, the young
couples marriage was decided by their parents. Those who wanted freedom to love
and marry one another were considered disobedient and blameworthy and were
referred to as those climbing over the wall . Furthermore, choosing a wife and
selecting a husband were based on consideration of marriage of convenience or
property. The two sides considered each others family background, morals and
social position, and esp. The conduct of the daughter-in-law and the capacity for hardworking of the son-in-law.
As written history, Vietnamese wedding formalities included six rites :
1. NAP THAI RITE : ( Rite of silk delivering or handing -over)
After choosing a partner for their children, mostly through the match-maker or
mediator, both families organised an engagement ceremony called Nap Thai Rite --the term from sino-Vietnamese meaning to hand in or deliver the colourful silk . At
the same time, the bridegrooms family would bring a wild goose to the brides house
to imply that this girl had been chosen.
2. VAN DANH RITE : ( Rite of asking names and ages )
Following was Van Danh Rite meaning the rite of asking names. The
bridegrooms family asked for the brides name and age. Then both would make a
marriage agreement stating the couples health status and their mothers ranks in
families ( principle or second and so on ).
3. NAP CAT RITE : ( Rite of spreading good news )
After having the couples ages, their parents (especially the bridegrooms)
would have the young couples horoscope data taken into consideration to see whether
their marriage was compatible or incompatible, different from the western astrological
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Multicultural World
signs of zodiac, that was based on the Chinese astrology according to the year of birth.
There are 12 signs, too, they are named after animals in orders:
COMPATIBLE SIGNS
INCOMPATIBLE SIGNS
<----------------------------------->
Rat <----->
Orders Buffalo
Tiger
Rabbit/Cat
Dragon --Snake
Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig
<-------------------------------------->
Rat <-->
Rabbit ---
Horse---
Rooster
Buffalo
Dragon
Goat
Dog
Tiger
Snake
Mokey
Pig
After comparing the couples ages, if the brides age matched the boys,
Nap Cat Rite would be done to show the bridegrooms family accepted both sides
marriage oaths. They would spread news by sending their representative to the
brides to inform them. If the brides family also accepted, they would re-spread
news in return. The Sino-Vietnamese word Cat here means good news .
4. THINH KY RITE : ( Rite of defining wedding day )
In accordance with ancient opinion, Vietnamese people usually consulted the
fortune-teller the favourable day to decide the wedding day. ( It had to be at Hoang
Dao Hour meaning the good hour of the day, of the month). That was called Thinh
Ky Rite that means the rite of defining wedding day for the young couple.
5. NAP TE RITE : ( Rite of handing-over marriage offerings )
In the Nap Cat or Thinh Ky Rite, the brides family would raise the requirement
of marriage offerings to the bridegrooms. This is called Thch Ci ( The custom
of asking for marriage offerings ) On those days, young men in Vietnamese villages
were scared of this custom because the brides requirements were too high and
beyond the bridegrooms abilities. The man wouldnt be allowed to marry the girl if he
didnt hand over enough. If meeting the brides requirements of marriage offerings, the
bridegrooms family would come to the brides and give them. This rite is called Np
T .
6. THANH NGHENH RITE : ( Rite of receiving bride )
3
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Multicultural World
21/3-20/4
21/4-20/5
21/5-20/6
21/6-20/7
5. Leo
( Lion )
6. Virgo ( Virgin )
7. Libra
( scales )
8. Scorpio (Scorpion )
21/7-20/8
21/8-20/9
21/9-20/10
21/10-20/11
* Aries for those born from March 21 to April 20. Taurus from April 21-May 20, and so on.
Lam Nguyen Tai
15/05/1998
- An Giang
Multicultural World