Weddings & Engagements in Vietnam & Egypt

Across the world, people get married every day. But every wedding ceremony is different and somehow related to the culture of the bride and groom. This article will venture to compare and contrast the traditions associated with weddings and engagements in two countries: Vietnam and Egypt.

Engagement and the Wedding Ceremony in Vietnam

The Vietnamese engagement ceremony is arranged in advance by the parents of the fiancé and fiancée, involving both families. The engagement is considered very important, sometimes more important than the wedding itself. Each family chooses two representatives from their side, known as mai-dongs, usually a happily married couple with a family of their own. Although there are two representatives, the man is the one who actually does the representation, asking for the fiancée's hand in marriage on behalf of the fiancée's family, exchanging gifts, and controlling the flow of the ceremony. The families also get together to negotiate the dowry and a date and time for the ceremony, which is traditionally selected based on astrological principles, or more commonly today as a matter of convenience. ("Engagement Ceremony;" Deutschmann & Pastoetter)

A few days before the engagement ceremony takes place, the fiancé's parents prepare gifts to proffer the fiancée's family. The gifts include betel leaves and areca nut fruits, wine, tea, cake, sticky rice, other foods, and jewelry. These items are placed in trays and wrapped in red plastic paper, believing that red will bring good luck. A whole pig is roasted and placed in a large tray, to be carried to the fiancée's home by two young men. During this time, the fiancé is getting the ring ready, and the fiancée is preparing herself for the ceremony. ("Engagement Ceremony")