ChineseWeddingCustoms&Rituals

　　InChineselegend,thefatherlyGod-in-the-moonlighttiesaredstringaroundtheanklesofthemanandwomanwhoaresupposedtobehusbandandwifesomeday.Thus,nomatterhowfaraparttheyare,theywilleventuallygetmarried...

　　Proposal&Betrothal

　　TwofamiliespickanauspiciousdateastheBetrothalDay.Thisisaformalmeetingbetweentheparentsoftheperspectivebrideandgroom.Thegroom'sfamilypresentsvariousproposalgiftsthatrepresentsfertilityandprosperityinChineseCulture,whichisalsoknownas"GrandGift".Thus,thetwoareconsideredofficiallyengaged.

　　Pre-WeddingRitual

　　Afterthebetrothalmeeting,bothfamilieswillmakeannouncementtotheirrelativesandfriendsbysendingout"DoubleHappinessCakes"alongwithinvitations.Thebride'sfamilythenpreparesdowryandgivealistofthedowriestothegroom'sfamily.Thegroom'sfamilyperforms"settingbridalbed"ritual...Thegroom'sfamilydecoratesthebridalhouseforthewedding,whilethebride'sfamilyprepareshouseholdaccessories,mostlybeddinganddiningnecessities,forthenewhome.

　　WeddingDayCeremony

　　Onthedayofthewedding,twofamiliesperforms"hairdressing"ritualand"capping"ritualforthebrideandgroomrespectively.Thenthegroomsetsouttothebride'shome,andhewillinevitablybeblockedatherdoorbyherfriends,andthebridesmaidswillplaydoorgamewiththegroomandhisattendants.Thebrideandgroomwillthenleaveherhomeandproceedtomeetthegroom'sparentsforTeaCeremony.TheweddingdateceremonyendswithafeastwhichfeatureselaborateChineseweddingfood.

　　WeddingNightRitual

　　Thenightofthewedding,thebridalroomwilllitdragonandphoenixcandletodriveawaytheevilspirit,thenewlywedswilldrinkwinefromtwocupstiedtogetherwitharedstring,armscrossedfromeachother.ThisistheformalweddingvowinChineseculture.Thenthebridewillbeoffereddumplingsthat'sboiledhalf-raw.Thepronunciationof"raw"isthesameasgivingbirthtochildren,aindicationoffamilyprosperity.

　　Post-weddingCustoms

　　Thenextmorningofthewedding,thebrideshouldgetupearlyandmakeamealforthegroom'sfamilytodemonstratethatsheiswell-nurtured.Threedaysafterthewedding,thegroomandbridewillgobacktovisitthebride'sparents.