PThaiWdg

Introduction to Tradition Thai Ceremony

Khan Makk
The Khan Makk Procession
Barring the Groom from Approaching the Bride
Counting the dowry
Water Pouring
Sachet powder

Khan Makk means “bowl of betel nuts” which is a golden bowl decorated with flowers, garlands and
banana leaves in this bowl there will be betel nuts, sesame seeds, and other plant seeds and coins.
The seeds signify prosperity and the name of the flowers means everlasting love. In days gone by,
plant seeds were a food source, so giving these seeds is a gift of good fortune.

In the morning of the wedding. The groom’s entourage will bring the Khan Makk to the bride’s family.
The proceedings begin with the arrival of the groom and his entourage at the bride’s home.

Banana leaves and sugar cane are paraded like banners by some of the attendants, while others
bear the traditional gifts of the Khan Makk, which includes rice, sesame seeds, Thai food for the feast
and many Thai desserts, as well as monetary gifts and other precious items, such as gold and
jewellery, which will make up the dowry to the Brides Parents later on in the ceremony.

Many of these gifts represent important aspects of the marriage, such as health, prosperity, fertillity,
and longevity. The Thai desserts to be eaten as part of the feast consist of 9 different items. The
number 9 is important in Thai society and it is used on occasions such as this to bring good luck.

The timing of the procession is also important, as it will have been calculated to occur at the most
auspicious moment for the couple. It is also common for the lucky number 9 to figure in these
calculations as well.
When the procession finally arrives at the bride’s home they will be met by the bride’s family, who will
invite the groom into the home to conduct the next part of the ceremony.

In order for the wedding to continue, the Groom must collect the bride from her room to join him for
the Khan Makk ceremony. Before this can happen however, the groom must successfully pass
through a number of obstacles that are put in his way by the family of the bride. Normally there are
just three symbolic “door” which can only be passed through once the groom has proved his worth to
the keepers of the “locks” These keepers are usually children holding silver and gold chains. The
groom or his gather has to offer some token and negotiate humorously before the children let them
pass. This tradition aims for the two families to get familiar with each other.

The Grooms can sometimes be questioned and is occasionally teased during this ritual as the family
light-heartedly determine whether he can pass through each “door” but his passage to the next
“door” or ultimately to the bride’s room itself, will only be granted once a “toil” has been negotiated
with the keeper of the “lock”. The toll for each subsequent “door” will increase as the groom
successfully advances.

Traditionally, a dowry of money and gold/jewellery will be formally presented by the groom’s parents
to the bride’s parents on the Khan Makk tray. The dowry is then counted out onto a red cloth by the
bride’s parents. The amount of the dowry is usually predetermined, but traditionally the amount given
will be more than this, which is intended to represent prospective wealth for the couple.

The couple pay their respects to the elder members of the two families by kneeling on the floor in
front of each of the elders in turn and performing a “kraap” , where the flattened hands are placed
palms together with the index fingers being brought up to touch the nose.

One of the items from the Khan Makk is a gift of candles and incense, which is handed to the elder as
a further sign of respect. Then elder places his/her hands around the candles and incense as a
symbol of acceptance, but does not keep it as it is used each time for all the family elders. The
couples then offer a gift to the elder. The choice of gift is up to the individual couple, but often
comprises of silk or cloth. Upon accepting the gift, the elder will replace it with a personal gift to the
couple and offers a blessing to the couple.

Finally, the couple will repeat the kraap obeisance.

Towards the end of the evening the nuptial bed must be prepared in readiness for ther bride and
groom. This is carried out by an elder couple, known to the bride and groom, who have remained
married for many years. This fact is significant, as it represents the longevity of the newlywed’s
marriage.

After making the bed, the elder couple will prepare a number of special items to be placed on the
bed. Each of these items are chosen to again represent a long and happy marriage. The items
include a wax gourd, a large tomcat, a stone and a gold and silver pouch cantaining mung beans,
sesame seeds, popped rice and the petals from flowers whose meaning symbolizes love, longevity or
happiness.

The same contents as placed in the gold and silver pouch are also mixed together by the elder
couple for sprinkling on the bed, in the same way as on the dowry, during the morning ceremony.
Once the nuptial bed is ready the elder couple will briefly sleep in the bed, with the intention of having
pleasant dreams on behalf of the newlyweds.

When the couple is ready, the groom will enter the bedroom. At this point the bride will be presented
to the groom by
either the elder couple, who made the bed, or by the brides’ parents. This choice is personal the
bride’s family and will be decided by whichever is regarded as being the most auspicious and luckiest
for the newlyweds. The elder couple then depart the bedroom, followed by the bride’s parents, to
leave the newlyweds to their new life together.

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