Bride-welcoming ceremony of the Giay in Lai Chau
Khac Kien/ VOV reporter in the Northwest -
(VOVWORLD) - Giay people consider a wedding party, which includes a bride-welcoming ceremony, the happiest event of a person’s life.
 The Giay, also known as Nheng, Dang, Pu Na, Cui Chu, and Xa, have a population of about 25,000 people, living mostly in Lai Chau province.
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 The Giay have a long history of development and rich and diverse culture.
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 One of the unique cultural features is the bride-welcoming ceremony celebrated in a traditional wedding.
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 Locals believe that the bigger the wedding and the more participants, the happier and longer the marriage will be.
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 The Giay prefer to organize a wedding at the end of the year when they have finished the farm work. Before the bride-welcoming ceremony, the couple go through other rituals such as the proposal and official engagement.
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 Leading the groom’s delegation are two female matchmakers, the key people to convince the bride’s family’s to bring out the bride.
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 The delegates to take the bride home always attend in pairs, with two female matchmakers, the groomsmen, and an even number of people carrying the offerings.
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 The wedding gifts should always include one vase of white liquor, two baskets of cakes, and two baskets for chicken. |
 Along the route to the bride’s house, the ceremonial music team play the Pi Keo clarinets until they reach the gate of the bride’s house. |
 The sound of the Pi Keo clarinets announces the bride-welcoming ceremony. Once villagers hear the sound of the Pi Keo, they will join the groom's relatives and follow the group to the bride’s house. |
 The gate of the bride’s house is tied with a red string. A matchmaker stands outside and performs the singing ritual to ask for the opening of the gate.
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 When the gate is opened, representatives of the bride’s family use a tree branch to sprinkle water on the groom’s delegates to wash away dust and bad luck.
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 The representatives of the bride’s family invite the matchmakers to drink liquor to pray for good luck and celebrate the new in-law relationship.
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 The groom’s delegates sing and play Pi Keo clarinets to persuade the bride’s family to untie the red string and welcome them into their home. |
 The two families talk about the future life of the couple. |
 The bride-welcoming ceremony takes place smoothly. Representatives of the two families communicate and drink liquor. |
 The ceremonial music team plays drums and Pi Keo clarinets while taking the bride to the groom’s family.
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 The bride is covered in a red scarf on the way to her husband’s house.
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 The groom happily removes the red scarf and the young couple begins their new life.
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 This is the way Giay villagers in Lai Chau preserve and promote their cultural identity.
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Khac Kien/ VOV reporter in the Northwest