Giay cake – a unique wedding offering of the Tay
The Tay’s thinking of marriage is quite open as most Tay boys and girls can freely date before asking for their parents’ permission to get married. The boy’s family will send a respectful person to the girl’s family to make a proposal. The two families show the girl’s date of birth to a shaman who helps them choose an auspicious day to organize the engagement and wedding ceremonies. On the engagement day, the boy’s family visits the girl’s housetodiscuss preparations, including offerings. Nong Tuyet Loan of Thach An district, Cao Bang province, said that in the past the offerings included pork, chicken, steamed sticky rice, and some money. Now there are also cigarettes, beer, and soft drinks. The offering must also have Giay sticky cakes. “The number of sticky ricecakes depends of the number of the bride’s relatives. Normally in my place, the bridal family asks for some money, 120 small sticky rice cakes, and a worship tray...