The Groom-Procession Ritual in Ede Weddings: A Matriarchal Identity of the Central Highlands
The Ede people are one of the most prominent ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, distinguished by their matriarchal system. Marriage is not merely an event for two individuals but a communal affair enveloped in a rich cycle of rituals. The most distinctive is the groom-procession ritual, a custom that profoundly reflects the role of women and reverses traditional gender roles.
Position in the Wedding Sequence
Traditionally, after each farming season, Ede girls begin their search for husbands. When a girl finds a suitable young man, her family takes the initiative to propose. After both families agree, the man comes to live with the bride's family for a period of matrilocal residence lasting 1 to 3 years, depending on the agreement. During this time, the groom's family has the right to demand a bride price, obliging the bride's family to prepare all wedding expenses.
Only after all obligations are fulfilled can the bride's family organize the official groom-procession ritual to bring the groom to their home. This marks the end of the trial period and serves as the official recognition of the marriage before the community and spirits.
A Meaningful Journey of Challenges
On the appointed day, the bride's procession comes to the groom's house to ask for permission. On the way back, they face numerous obstacles set up by the bride's friends and relatives. To pass, the groom must give them copper bracelets.
Notably, at the entrance of the longhouse, a group of the bride's cousins closes the door and demands gifts. The groom must offer another copper bracelet, a package of sticky rice, and a chicken. Only then does the door open.
The Ede believe these challenges symbolize future marital hardships. Overcoming them is an omen of a lasting, happy, and prosperous life. The copper bracelet is not just a gift but a pledge of fidelity.
Offering Inventory and Divine Witness
Inside the longhouse, the maternal uncle, a key figure in the matriarchal family, addresses the groom's family. He reviews the bride price items, verifying what has been paid and what is missing, and declares the bride's family will now pay in full. He then asks permission to take the groom to his wife's home.
After the inventory, the bride's family returns all offerings. The climax occurs when the village elder, after asking for any objections, performs the final ritual. He dips cotton wool into a bronze bowl containing blood from a sacrificed animal and wipes it on the couple's legs three times. This signifies the marriage is witnessed and blessed by the spirits. The couple is now officially married and must remain faithful and diligent.
The elder then offers them a jar of wine to drink through long bamboo tubes, symbolizing a long life together. They share a piece of rice and pork liver, vowing to share both sweetness and hardship.
