The Bh'noong Ethnic Group's Husband-Catching Festival in Quang Nam Province
The husband-catching ritual is usually performed during the celebration of victory (Pơ-tuh), a traditional festival of the Bh'noong people to honor the fruits of labor and the desire for the continuation of the lineage. The festival takes place around the 12th lunar month annually, lasting from 3 to 5 days, at the communal house (nhà rông) – the working, living, and cultural space of the entire village. The festival includes various enjoyable activities, cultural performances, and traditional sports competitions, attracting participation from the entire village and neighboring areas.
On the third night of the festival, the husband-catching ritual takes place. Approximately 7-10 days prior, the girls independently explore and select preferred young men, then report to their parents and the village's council of elders. If granted approval, the girls will secretly and swiftly plan the husband-catching event. They will assign around 10-16 strong individuals to search for and carry home the selected young men. If these young men resist or attempt to escape, they will be restrained and brought back by force.
At the communal house, the council of village elders conducts a pledge ceremony for the couples. The offerings consist of a chicken, a small amount of traditional liquor, and a xà lùng, a type of ethnic scarf worn by the Bh'noong people. The couple will drink the liquor from a long bamboo tube, then hold hands to touch the chicken and the xà lùng, making a wish for a hundred years of happiness. Afterward, they will be carried to a corner of the communal house, adorned with the most beautiful fabrics amidst the cheers of the community.
Once married through the husband-catching ritual, the couples are considered husband and wife. They will live with the girl's family following the matriarchal system. After approximately 2-3 months, both families will organize the official wedding ceremony with more elaborate rituals and offerings. If, for any reason, the young man is dissatisfied or abandons the girl, he will face severe penalties according to the Bh'noong customs. The young man must compensate the girl's family with valuable items such as silver, jewelry, cattle, etc., and apologize to the village elders and each family in the village.
The Bh'noong people's husband-catching custom is a testament to freedom, equality, and respect between men and women in marriage. It is also a unique and captivating cultural aspect of an ethnic minority in the Truong Son – Central Highlands region, contributing to the richness and diversity of Vietnam's cultural tapestry.