Types of marriage: several experts have acknowledged two types of marriage, namely, Wiwahamongkol and Awahamongkol. But since the Thai society and human's mind have changed as time goes by. Individual concerns only the profit for them, not the society. The consequence is selfishness, presently causing chaos in Thai society. In the writer's opinion, the additional type of marriage is that both people, without permission from their parents, flee to set their own family, so called Wiwahor (Wiwa = marriage, hor = flee). This type of marriage is widely conducted in Thai society at present, which is not appropriated because it does not follow our exquisite Thai culture.
Wiwamongkol is the really Thai traditional marriage. The wedding ceremony is held at the bride's home. After the ceremony is completed, the groom will be living with the bride's family i.e. father in-law and mother in-law. This type is popular in rural area or conservative family, which consider the traditional way is right, good, and accepted by the society. For newer generation, young people require more freedom, not to live with their parents after marriage because they want to be a leader of the family so they would be prouder. With this reason, in present Thai society, single family is more preferable than expanded family.
Awahamongkol is the Chinese or Indian style, which the bride must go to the groom's home for the wedding ceremony. After they already got married, the wife must live with the husband's family. Thai women do not like this type of marriage because they lack of freedom, unlike living with her own parent. However, some women may like this way, regarding the necessity and suitability of the social status. If the groom's family is wealthy and well known in the society whereas the bride's family is not that rich then she, therefore, voluntarily come to live with the groom's family, provided that the groom's parent do not dislike her and the groom does not have too many relatives.
Wiwahomongkol is not a ceremonial and unauthorized marriage. Both man and woman agree to live together as husband and wife with only love and understanding. So it is not necessary to hold the wedding at either the woman's home or the man's home. This type of marriage resulted from the dislike between the two families, the contradiction, or the failure to reach an agreement. But since the two people love each other, so they are forced to flee to start their own family independent from both parents' family. After they have a baby, they will come back for forgiveness from their parents. If parents see that they can happily create a new family on their own, forgiveness is always possible. However, according to Thai tradition, this type of marriage is hardly acceptable by parents and Thai society. In contrary, it is a simple and economic marriage since it does not have to spend on unnecessary elements. Inevitably, they have to admit the marriage registration in order to legalize their marriage. This type of marriage is considerably better than living together before they get married, which each person can just leave, without obligation, if he/she find that they cannot truly get along each other. Some people favor this type of marriage. Some couples do not actually flee from their parents, they just live together without telling their parents'. However, their marriage are legally registered.
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Translator : Aketawan Manowongsa