Weddings of the World - 12 Part Mini Series - Tibet
Part 1: Tibetan Wedding Traditions
For the next little while I will be giving you a glimpse of different wedding traditions around the world. To truly be inspired one must dive into the rich cultures life has given us.
Our first stop is Tibet:
A couple shares courtship. If the gentleman wants to marry his lady he will seek an astrologist and present her age, date of birth, and zodiac sign to see if they are compatible in marriage.
If compatible he then asks permission from his family to be married. If he receives there blessing the couple than asks an elder gentleman or matchmaker (usually the brides maternal uncle) to propose the marriage to the hopeful bride-to-be’s parents. If the parents approve, gifts are than presented to the bride’s family.
The day before the wedding, the groom’s family sends the bride a set of costumes for her wedding and often a horse (with a color suitable to the bride's zodiac attributes) for the bride to ride on to the groom’s house or tent. They also present a ceremonial scarf to the bride's parents and bless the household and all of its members. The bride's family will choose an auspicious day to send dowry to the man.
On the wedding day, the groom's family will invite a person with good reputation and a group of riders to fetch the bride. The convoy is usually led by the astrologist, who wears a white gown. He rides on a white horse and holds a picture of the Nine Courts and Eight Diagrams. Following behind are the welcoming group, the bride, accompanied by a woman on her side, and finally members of the groom at the end.
Before the arrival of the bride, the groom would have the gate decorated and a cushion of barley’s laid in front of his house to welcome guests. The cushion is covered with a piece of colourful embroidered cloth. Upon arrival at the house, the groom presents the bride with a Khatag (ceremonial scarf), after accepting the Khatag she enters the house. The groom's family formally begins the wedding ceremony, during which the bride and groom kneel in front of the groom’s parents and a photo of Buddha while monks chant. The bride serves milk-tea to her future in-laws, she will first take her ring finger and flick milk tea three times to salute heaven, earth, and the Buddha.
The bride and groom will then sit together in the living room to receive good wishes gifts and from guests. Then the newly wed are sent to their room, where lamas recite sutras to bless them.
The wedding ceremony is followed by a joyful wedding feast and banquet for the guests. This is liberally interrupted by many presentations of ceremonial scarves, blessings, and gifts Friends and relatives will sing and dance to celebrate. During the night, they will play funny games to tease the couple. The festivities can last 1 day to as much as 10 days.
Resources:
http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/asian_traditions/tibetan_traditions.html
http://www.tibettrip.com/features/marriage-customs.htm
Photos:
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/Tibet/tibet-local-custom.html
http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/115Traditions2599.html
For the next little while I will be giving you a glimpse of different wedding traditions around the world. To truly be inspired one must dive into the rich cultures life has given us.
Our first stop is Tibet:
A couple shares courtship. If the gentleman wants to marry his lady he will seek an astrologist and present her age, date of birth, and zodiac sign to see if they are compatible in marriage.
If compatible he then asks permission from his family to be married. If he receives there blessing the couple than asks an elder gentleman or matchmaker (usually the brides maternal uncle) to propose the marriage to the hopeful bride-to-be’s parents. If the parents approve, gifts are than presented to the bride’s family.
The day before the wedding, the groom’s family sends the bride a set of costumes for her wedding and often a horse (with a color suitable to the bride's zodiac attributes) for the bride to ride on to the groom’s house or tent. They also present a ceremonial scarf to the bride's parents and bless the household and all of its members. The bride's family will choose an auspicious day to send dowry to the man.
On the wedding day, the groom's family will invite a person with good reputation and a group of riders to fetch the bride. The convoy is usually led by the astrologist, who wears a white gown. He rides on a white horse and holds a picture of the Nine Courts and Eight Diagrams. Following behind are the welcoming group, the bride, accompanied by a woman on her side, and finally members of the groom at the end.
Before the arrival of the bride, the groom would have the gate decorated and a cushion of barley’s laid in front of his house to welcome guests. The cushion is covered with a piece of colourful embroidered cloth. Upon arrival at the house, the groom presents the bride with a Khatag (ceremonial scarf), after accepting the Khatag she enters the house. The groom's family formally begins the wedding ceremony, during which the bride and groom kneel in front of the groom’s parents and a photo of Buddha while monks chant. The bride serves milk-tea to her future in-laws, she will first take her ring finger and flick milk tea three times to salute heaven, earth, and the Buddha.
The bride and groom will then sit together in the living room to receive good wishes gifts and from guests. Then the newly wed are sent to their room, where lamas recite sutras to bless them.
The wedding ceremony is followed by a joyful wedding feast and banquet for the guests. This is liberally interrupted by many presentations of ceremonial scarves, blessings, and gifts Friends and relatives will sing and dance to celebrate. During the night, they will play funny games to tease the couple. The festivities can last 1 day to as much as 10 days.
Resources:
http://www.worldweddingtraditions.com/locations/asian_traditions/tibetan_traditions.html
http://www.tibettrip.com/features/marriage-customs.htm
Photos:
http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/Tibet/tibet-local-custom.html
http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/115Traditions2599.html
Cool!
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