Traditional Mien Bride Ceremony

One of the most important day in a Mien couple’s life. Bringing your wife into the family traditionally, spiritually and religiously, blessing ceremony. The ceremony is to let the ancestors know that we have a new family member and the ancestors are to watch over her and bless her and the couple with all that is great in life. In mien culture, It is believe that you are not consider a married couple until this ceremony. It is believe that after this ceremony the couple will be husband and wife even in the afterlife. The ceremony starts at 5am and takes an entire day. The wife and husband are to be dressed in traditional mien wedding clothes. The time of the bride’s entry into the house is of most importance. Thus, the ceremony must be held on a bless day and the bride must enter the house at an auspicious time. The wife’s entry into the house is escorted by 2 bridesmaid and a guiding lady who is well off in life and family. The shaman performing the ceremony must be one with a good life, intelligent and family as well. Once the bride enter the home she will kneel in front of an alter for the ancestors. The shaman will perform a ritual of asking the ancestors for their acceptance and blessings. Once the ancestor have accepted the new family meme we the ceremony is concluded. The bride will be guided into their room where she will bring new luck and abundance. An offering is made to the ancestors for their blessings. A feast of mien food is prepared for all guests that are here to help and to celebrate. My uncle said, in honor of obtaining a mien citizenship, the wife must do a 5 second waterfall 😂