Essay

Topic: Vietnam marriage custom different to American marriage custom. In most cultures, besides its legality a marriage is also a social union between two persons who wish to stay with one another. When you really love someone, there is nothing happier when the person you love loves you. You will have good moments in your life, in which marriage is just the beginning of all the joys and happiness that await the married couple. Marriage is a contract between you and your lover, by the fact that it acknowledges a marital relationship legally. Speaking of which, each country has their own unique set of marriage custom which is different from that of others. As a result, Vietnamese-oriented marriage is different with its American counterpart in many ways. First, marriage is thought to be one of the biggest events in life. In the past, especially in the less developed areas, a marriage of a girl or a boy was often pre-arranged by his or her parents. Neither the male nor female had any say in deciding who shall be her husband or his wife; everything was decided by her or his parents. This happened because of an old belief that love will eventually develop once the couple starts living together for a long time. Therefore, they were often unaware of their future spouse’s name, not to mention the face and appearance until their first night after wedding. Because of this old-fashioned practice that stripped away the one’s freedom, marriage was not always a happy event because the young couples had no rights to decide their fate. An engagement ceremony, as a pre-ceremony to the wedding, usually takes place a half year before the wedding. After the engagement is arranged by their parents who will prepare the wedding ceremony by chose the date and time, family on both sides will determine an auspicious day, often consulted with a fortune teller. Therefore, the wedding consists of an extensive set of ceremonies such as: asking permission to receive the bride, receiving the bride at her house, bringing the bride to groom’s house, the reception for the bride and broom’s family and friends, and traditional Vietnamese wedding gifts. Before the wedding day, the groom’s family comes to the bride’s house with a gift of betel nuts to officially ask for the permission to receive the bride. At this time, the bride’s family would confirm the wedding, and further proceedings would take place. On the day of the wedding, the procession of the groom’s family is led in a specific order. Because the first person would be the representative of the groom’s house, this senior person of the family tree is followed by the groom’s father, the groom, the rest of his family and groom’s friends. The groom’s family carries the lacquer box covered in red cloth. Inside these boxes are gifts representing the wealth that groom’s family will bring to that of the bride. Afterwards, the bride and groom arrive back at the groom’s house. At the groom’s house, the newlyweds will be brought to the groom’s ancestor altar, and the bride is introduced to the groom’s relatives. Following the ceremony at the groom’s house, all of the bride and groom’s family and friends are invited to a restaurant for wedding feast. Therefore, guests are expected to bring the gifts, and it is traditionally in the form of money in a red envelope. At one point during the reception, the bride and groom will go from table to table to thank guests for their blessings and the gifts. On the contrary, American marriage is much less complicated than that of a Vietnamese couple, since the American marriages are not arranged like Vietnam marriage, yet the wedding takes place between two persons who believe they have found someone to share their life with. In other words, a typical American marriage is based on love. Also, the traditional American wedding is about bridal shower, bridal party, and honeymoon. By the way, the traditional American wedding is organized in a church where family and friends can gather and witness the union under the guidance of religion. Next, the wedding ceremony is conducted by the priest who will ask the bride and groom to exchange the wedding ring to each other, marking the two as husband and wife. After the wedding ceremony ends, the couple leaves the church; they are showered with rice which is recognized as the symbol of fertility. After that, the couple organizes a reception party where all family members and friends of two families enjoy and make merry. Mainly, the bride and groom will spend the time together on honeymoon to enjoy the romantics as a newlywed couple In conclusion, each country has its own values of marriage. Because marriage brings you a happy life, it helps you to understand the value of marriage. Also, the marriage is final destination and so important to the couple who will handle their love to live forever together.