Lanna Crafts XVI

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

After wedding ceremony, Lanna son-in-law has a duty to build houses for his family. Today we will present a Tradition about Lanna Home Reconstruction.

Picture of Lanna Houses

- Tradition about Lanna Home Reconstruction, when the groom comes to live at the bride’s house, he needs to stay there at least three years to help her parents’ jobs; farming, gardening, etc. before enable to build a new separated own house. There are in-depth concepts on this as the wife will have opportunity to practice to be a good housewife, while the husband will be trained by the father-in-law to be a nice leader of the family, and the couple will be able to save money for building their own house.

It’s prohibited for the couple to build a very neat house on the first one when they need a separated house from parents, Lanna people believe that it’s inauspicious and will bring unfortunate events to the family. So their first house will be constructed to be able to stand only for 1-3 years before build a new one. The second constructed house will consist of tied beams, and the third constructed house will be the neatest one with the inserted beams and tied beams for long residence.

The head of the family needs to find auspicious time and date to start building the house. He will discuss with the old ones who know Lanna cultures and traditions, or might discuss with a fortune-teller who will give suggestion on the best date and time from his book. The suggested months from the book usually are in even number of Lanna months, sixth and eighth, but the tenth month will be prohibited for any auspicious ceremony.

The host of the new house will inform his neighbors to come for helps on house construction. The wife will prepare foods for all neighbors who will come, and the husband will contact to all engineers or the working team. He needs to prepare some rituals before building a house: Asking for the land from King of Nagas before digging the main-pole hole, Notification to the Four Celestial Guardians (see Lanna Crafts XI).

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

1) ‘Thai Fashion Purse- Handmade in Chiang Mai’, from Thai Fashion Handbag-Thailand:

Thai Fashion Purse-
Handmade in
Chiang Mai

• This beautiful and unique handbag is handmade at the Bann Talae handicraft center near Chiang Mai Thailand.
• Strong, durable craftsmanship.
• All hand stitching and native materials, from the wooden beads on the strap, to the gold silk string, to the wooden button that closes the top, to the mosaic artwork material that is used in the design.
• Single strap design is the perfect length for carrying as a shoulder strap or clutch.
• Ornate mosaic material is native Thai and only available to tourists who go to this area of Northern Thailand.
• Dimensions: 28.00" h x 8.00" w x 15.00" l, 1.21 pounds

2) ‘Thai Puggi Oriental Lamp’, from Oriental Furniture:

Thai Puggi Oriental Lamp

• Measures 18" H x 10" D x 10" W - Attractive Table Lamp or Night Light
• Hand Crafted Wood Lantern in Unique Thai Spirit House Design
• Fiber Reinforced Pressed Pulp Rice Paper Shade - Cast a Soft Glow in Any Room
• UL Approved Wiring, Socket & Switch for 60 Watt Bulb - Up to 150W Compact Flourescent

(To be continued)

Lanna Crafts XV

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

Lanna Costume was presented in previous article. Today we will go to see Lanna Wedding Tradition and Ceremony.

Picture of Lanna Wedding Ceremony

- Lanna Wedding Tradition and Ceremony, before a decision to get married or to have a new family, besides of the Lanna couple’s considerations on their appearances, characteristics, wealthy, relations to the social, etc., they need to care with the traditional beliefs on marriage life, such as birth dates of the couple must not be opponent together. They believe that the friendly birth dates will lead the couple to be prosperous, but the marriage life will be failed on their opponent birth dates.

The traditional marriage life (or living together as a family) of Lanna people was simplified in the past. When the woman’s parents were aware of the couple’s love or there was ‘Pid-pee (see Lanna Craft VII)’ occurred, they would contact to the man for his responsibility by performing a process called ‘Sai-pee’ or ‘Sier-pee’ which allowed the man side to ask for forgiveness by giving candles, flowers, money and other offerings to the woman’s household spirits. After that there would be an appointment of the woman’s parents to let the man come to living at their home. The man would pick only a sword or some of his clothes to his new family, because the woman side will prepare all things for living at their home to welcome the new member. There would not be anything much came with him, except money for starting a new life with his new family. The man would proudly show how much of money he carried with to the woman and her parents.

Later, there would be wedding ceremony called ‘Kin-cak-tang-ngan’, which was classified in two sorts:

• First, ‘Pid-pee’ wedding as mentioned before at Lanna Craft VII,

• Second, ‘A marriage proposal’, when the couple love and decide to get married and live together, the man’s senior relatives will come to make the proposal and appointment on engagement date.

After engagement, there would be an appointment for wedding and celebration date which would invite guests as both sides’ considerations.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

1) ‘925 Thai Silver Handmade Jewelry Findings Wedding Rings Designs for Girls 8.9g (Wzl0014-tyjz)’, from Wenzhilian Jewelry Co., Ltd:

925 Thai Silver Handmade
Jewelry Findings Wedding Rings
Designs for Girls 8.9g
(Wzl0014-tyjz)

Agate is one of the seven gems in Buddhism; it has an effect to ward off evil spirits. People started to use it as their talisman long years ago. Since the ancient times the scholars treated agate as "the third eye" of jade and the symbol of friendliness, love and hope. Handmade, fashion & romantic clear 925 sterling silver and natural agate, color: black & red & green/Weight:8.9g/size:18#dia. : 18.5MM perimeter: 58MM; 19#dia. : 18.8 MM perimeter: 59MM; 20#dia. : 19.4 MM perimeter: 61MM.

2) ‘Sterling Silver Thai Style Filigree Diamond-Shaped Dangle Earrings’, from Avend Concepts:

Sterling Silver Thai Style
Filigree Diamond-Shaped
Dangle Earrings

These charming earrings feature a filigree Thai-style pattern in a diamond-shaped design. Sterling silver dangle earrings add a soft grace to anyone as their sparkling accentuates your every movement with that extra class. They are beautifully made in 925 sterling silver and finished with 925 sterling silver fishhook backs with spiral wire accents. They measure 1 and 1/2 inches (38 millimeters) in length and 3/4 inches (19 millimeters) in width. The high polish finish gives these earrings an exquisite shine that is sure to catch every eye.

(To be continued)