The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-08-04
ODD THINGS IN SIAN
CURIOUS CUSTOMS AND CEREMONIES
THAT ARE STILL OBSERVED.

CUTTING the Topknot Of the CAllA
Wedding and Its Celebration-Cee.
nation With Refreshments.
In Siam the cutting Of the topknot Is
so important ceremony for the future
81 DIAL welfare of the child that it is
most scrupu!ously carried out, with all
the pomp and ceremony that the means
Of the parents Will allow. That the
poor people may not be deprived of the
benefit Of tie ceremony the government
provides all that is necessary for it Mt
one of the temples at Bangkok. The
center Of the ceremony is the cutting
off of the topknot, which is all the hair
children are permitted to wear up to
that time. But associated with it are q
number of publications and other reli.
gious forms which have to be scrupu.
lousy carried out. The topknot, which
is ordinarily adorned with cLap!et of
flowers or beads, often held in place
with jeweied pin Of considerable val
ue, is now muc.l more resplendently
adorned, while the child is further load.
ed with the richest jewels the family
can provide. After the ceremony the
hair is allowed to grow all over the
head and is usually worn about an inch
long, standing up like q brush. The
child is now reckoned to have reached
mans estate. although, to their credit
be it said, the Siamese are in no hurry
to marry their children. In fact, undue
haste to make match for daughter
is apt to raise question as to whether
things are SO fourishing with the fam
lily as they might be.
When marriage is thought of, it is Of.
ten the result Of mutual affection and
takes the form Of an elopement, with
subsequent forgiveness by the old folk.
The more formal way calls for a lot Of
negotiation and the payment to the
parents Of ''ka, nom." which is often,
however. returned to the daughter on
the birth Of her first child. The monks,
who are the astrologers Of the country
among other accomplishments, are
called upon to nx the lucky dag. ON the
arrival Of which the bridegroom and
his friends 60 to the brides house. car.
rying presents Of cakes and betei. All
Siamese chew betel. and not to offer it
70 . guest 70 q serious breach Of hospi-
tality. The guilds when ready for chew
ing consist Of leaves Of the betel pep
per. chips Of areca nut-there is no
such thing % betel nut that careless
travellers write about-a little slaked
lime and sometimes tobacco also. The
siamese word for this mixture Is ID.
pEopriately ''muk." This will always
be In evidence at weddings, and the
preparation and presentation Of the be-
tel tray to the bridegroom constitute
one Of the forms Of acceptance BY the
bride Of his authority over her. The
monks will be already in attendance,
toasted with the best that can be pro
vided, and the ceremony Of marriage 10
performed by them with the sprinkling
Of consecrated water over the couple.
But the greatest ceremony Of all
takes place after death. If the person
be Of high rank. the body is placed in a
sitting posture in large metal urn OF
among the commoners in an ordinary
coffin. After being kept period that
lengthens with tho exaltation of rank
day Is fixed for the cremation. All
the friends Of the family are invited.
and enormous sums are spent on enter
tanning them and providing free shows
for the general public. The guests will
enter the Enclosure. while Chinese thea
tiers, Siamese marionettes and plays
will be provided for all who care to
witness them. On entering one would
be met by some member of the de-
ceased's family bearing a black, bag,
into which all are invited in turn to dip
hand. 1t is found to contain a num-
Der Of tiny balls, each Of which is hol-
low and contains a screw of paper. A
Siamese figure on it refers to similar
figure on some article in one Of the
booths in the Enclosure. and the guests
k~I IN