Thai marriage at large and definitely the ceremony of traditional Thai wedding interlinked with an ancient tradition called sinsod (สินสอด). A custom of paying a dowry (dowery) to compensate a family of bride “for mother’s milk”. A concept of sinsod was initially brought in to ensure that one’s daughter does not marry below her potential standing in life. To stipulate that her social, financial and professional status and reputation is preserved and secured.
Traditionally, a downry (สินสอด [sin-sot]) will be formally presented by the groom’s parents to the bride’s parents on the Kan Maak tray. This dowry will consist of money and gold/jewelry. The dowry is then counted out onto a red cloth by the bride’s parents. The amount of the dowry is usually predetermined which is intended to represent prospective wealth for the couple.
There is no set amount, the sum of sinsod is typically determined on the one hand by suitor’s perceived wealth, and on the other hand by the “value” of the future wife. Her beauty, personality, background, education and other qualifications, if she is a virgin, or has got a child, and so forth.
Nowadays, many parents-in-law hand the dowry back to the married couple as a wedding gift, some families do not require a dowry, and some need to keep the money. Traditionally, sinsod is reciprocated by the parents-in-law. More often than not, a part of the money is used to pay for the wedding ceremonies, parties and other related expenses. Dowries or sinsod payments range from THB 50,000 to 250,000 and up.
The ceremony I attended the sinsod was 1,000,199 Baht together with a car and a house. Thai people believe that number 9 brings good luck, so they like to set the sinsod amount ending with number 9.
Hey Mod, I appreciate your blog.
You’re great mak mak, Love to read little things like this. Very interesting and relative to learning a new language.
sawat dee krup, very interesting blog mod, can i ask what are your ideas on this ? obviously you are thai but do you think in this day and age its still a good gesture or is it something which is a bit dated now ? are you married, if not would you use this tradition on your wedding day?
This is my opinion : Dowry payments are a long tradition in Thai and other cultures. This is now slowly changing and in some families the dowry payment is only part of the wedding ceremony and often the monies are returned back to the couple. In each case this is naturally a discussion between the family and the couple i.e. whether a dowry payment is needed, and if it is, how the situation is handled. In case the family insists on the dowry payment, everyone needs to make their own assessment about the situation and circumstances related to the marriage.Unfortunately there is no simple yes/no type answer I can offer, but you need to use common sense and listen to your heart to see if all the elements around you are supporting what you want to achieve.
A part of the difference City/Countryside is the dowry system the same in all
4 regions of Thailand or is it mostly in Isaan?
If it works also in the South, your husband must have paid a high dowry! 555
ํYes, it is the same throughout the country:)
How much exactly you think your parents will ask for you? (please note that the guy is not so rich but very nice) Do you think they will return anything? Whats your dream honeymoon? How many childeren do you want to have?