Proposal in Tibetan Marriage Customs
Proposal is the first step of marriage. Traditionally, if a man is interested in a lady, he will seek her age, date of birth and her zodiac attribute (i.e mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog or pig). With all the information on hand, he will consult an astrologist to check if her attributes are compatible with his. If both zodiac matched, the fellow's family will choose an auspicious day and get a matchmaker to visit the girl's family for the formal proposal, with gifts such as khatag, yak butter tea, barley wine and other gifts. If her family agrees, they will accept the gifts. Nowadays, freedom of choosing spouse is also prevail in Tibet.
Engagement in Tibetan Marriage Customs
If both sides agree with the marriage, they will choose another auspicious day to sign an engagement. The ceremony will be held at the lady's house and should be participated by representatives of both families and the chief witnesses. On that particular day, the man's family has to send Khatag and other gifts to every member of the lady's family. Contents of the engagement are more about mutual respect and love, showing filial piety for elders, good morality or inheriting fortune in future, etc. After the witnesses check the duplicate betrothal contracts, they will sign the contracts with the seals of the two families and pass them to both sides. Finally the lady's family will hold a banquet to celebrate the occasion. At the end of the banquet, each guest will be presented with Khatag upon leaving.
Tibetan Wedding Ceremony
Before the wedding, another auspicious day will be chosen for the wedding ceremony by the groom's family. On previous day of wedding ceremony, the groom's side sent a suit of beautiful clothing and a hair ornament wrapped by silk to the bride for wearing. On wedding day, the groom's side will find a man with good status to take a group of people and colorful arrows decorated with mirrors, jades and jewels, along with a finely decorated horse of pregnancy whose color match the bride's birthpet to bride's house. The bride's side will offer Qiema as a ritual of farewell before the groom's side arrives. As greeting bride party arrives, a colorful arrow will be plugged on the bride's back and a jade will be put upon her head to show bride now belongs to the bridegroom's side. A bride maid from the bride's side is sent to escort her in the greeting party. When bride leaves, someone of the bride's family will hold a colorful arrow in one hand and a mutton leg in another, standing in any high place and shout out 'don't take away fortune of the family' until the bride's greeting party is out of sight.
26 авг 2024
