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)

Lanna Crafts XIV

Lanna Cultures & Traditions (cont.):

In latest article we presented many ‘Lanna Rituals Related to The Patient’ which quite related to their daily life. Today the article is closer to their daily life than ever. If someone who have traveled to the northern of Thailand or seen some Lanna cultural performances, they may like and be interested in the Lanna original costume both for ladies and gentlemen. So today Thai Burmese Crafts will present a Lanna Culture: Lanna Costume.

Picture of Lanna Costume of Ladies and Gentlemen

- Lanna Costume, from the past since reign of King Mengrai (see Lanna Craft I: Lanna History), Lanna people wear the similar clothing which presented out their unique culture as follows:

Lanna Ladies Costume: The bare breast of a suburb woman was common in the past. She might have only light color cloth to use with, such as wrapping the breast, or hanging with her neck, wearing as Sabai (a cloth wearing type of Siam), etc. The blouse wearing came popular in very late period of Lanna. The blouse would be handcrafted sewing cotton cloth, typically white color from cotton. For an adult, she would wear a round-necked blouse, curved sleeves, five seam stitching, fit to body. Moreover she would wear the under-blouse as a sleeveless t-shirt with the same sewing method as the blouse.

A woman would wear a long striped skirt-like dress called ‘Sinn’. The fabric of Sinn would be striped single seam, and the color was dyed with vegetable colors in red, purple, etc. There would be a connected bottom-end cloth to connect with the main Sinn, the color might be black. The other end of main Sinn, which would be worn at the woman’s waist, usually was sewed with white color cloth. Later, when there was loom development which enabled whole Sinn cloth production without connected sewing, Lanna ladies favored this kind of Sinn and change to another alternative colors mixing with many patterns which were popular till present day.

Lanna Gentlemen Costume: In the past, Lanna men admired tattoo designs from waist to knee. The girls would ignore any bare hip men, since they believe that those were cowards. A Lanna man would wear cotton cloth which color was alternated black and white. There were three wearing methods; first, normal wear by tuck at center of waist and the remainder was hanged from the waist, second, catch and tuck at the waist as the first method, but the remainder was passed under the body (between two legs) to tuck at the back (of waist), third, for fit tight purposes, such as fighting or hard working or riding a buffalo, he would wear very tight with both sides of the hips showing the tattoo. For these three wearing methods, the man would bare the chest. Some Lanna men wear pants which were similar pattern to Chinese one. There were short and long pants which sewed with handmade cotton.

Lanna men in the past did not like to wear shirts. In the cold weather, they will use some long cloth to cover the body. The color of this cloth was dyed with vegetable dyes, i.e. indigo, ebony, jackfruit, etc. Later they wore round-necked shirts which short or long sleeves with throughout buttons in front called ‘Moh-Hom (in Thai)’ or Indigo-shirt.

In addition, there might be some apparel for some jobs or some occasions, such as hat, belt, shoes, and other accessories of rich people.

Today recommended Crafts/Handmade Products:

100% Cotton Traditional Thai Daishiki
- Royal Purple and African Gold
Design (size LARGE 44-46)

- ‘100% Cotton Traditional Thai Daishiki- Royal Purple and African Gold Design (size LARGE 44-46)’, from MR. Thai- Bangkok: Handmade, highest quality, 100% cotton Daishikis will surpass your greatest expectations, no blends or synthetic fibers, completely machine safe and easy to care for, exquisite and vibrant patterns and colors, durable, strong and long-lasting, designed and handcrafted to last. Possibly the most unique and beautiful gift you could ever give or receive.

Thai Foot Massage Stick

- ‘Thai Foot Massage Stick’: This Traditional Thai Foot Massage stick is about 13cm long, made of teak, and has ridges along the sides, to allow a variety of techniques to be performed and the thin and thick end offer more, or less focused pressure for the reflex points, smooth and ridged sides for different sensations.

(To be continued)