Chinese weddings

Chinese have been around for long periods and well, we live in separate regions. Therefore, each region has its own food, dialect, and naturally, its own wedding customs. In this small site, I would like to share with you some Chinese customs, which could have some local flavor.

Procedures

This is the elaborate process on the groom's parents' part to provide the right kind of bride for their family. Families are great for a bride can take care of household finances and most importantly, give birth to sons inherit the wealth of the family. families are poor for a bride, can work hard in the fields, and birth to sons to help on the farm.

In the old days, marriages are arranged so that it is quite normal for parents to dominate the bride-seeking. Girls from wealthy families will be provided by other rich and poor families is likely to marry girls in poor families. Hence the Chinese proverb: Bamboo door to door bamboo as a wooden door is the wooden door.

Picking up the Bride

On the day of the wedding, the groom will send a carriage over to the bride's family to bring the bride home. The carriage is decorated in red and is carried by four servants. Musicians will accompany the procession and they will play wedding music all the way. A lot of gifts are also brought to the bride's family at the same time.

At the bride's home, the bride will put on her bright red wedding gown and the bride's parents will give her jewelry to wear.

Bride Leaving Home

As the groom's procession arrives, the groom's spokeswoman will enter the bride's house and will carry the bride on her back. The bride cannot touch the ground with her feet until she arrives at the groom's house. In some regions, the bride's relatives will throw rice into the air, hoping that the chickens around will eat the rice instead of pecking at the bride. Sometimes, a red umbrella is used to shield the bride as the opening of the umbrella will symbolize her bringing many descendants to the groom's family. As the bride leaves the house, her parents and her relatives will bid her farewell as she rides the carriage and leaves home. Wealthy brides often have servant girls who will follow her to the groom's family and continue to serve her. These maids are known as ones who 'accompany the marriage'.

Bride Arriving at the Groom's Home

After the bride arrive at the groom's house, the couple will again worship the ancestors and worship the heavens and earth. Then they will serve tea to the groom's family according the their seniority and the relatives will give them red packets or bridal jewelry in return.

The Wedding Banquet

To celebrate the marriage, the groom's family will throw a wedding feast as large as they can afford. In the old days, some villagers may use up to seven continuous days to entertain the relatives during a wedding. Every night, delicious food is being served to all the guests.