Introduction & Disclaimer
Dear Brides-to-be & Grooms-to-be,
I am very pleased to present my wedding preparation kit for all couples who are going to get married soon or in the mid of preparation.
A small introduction of me, I first started to prepare my wedding on August 2007 as my big day was on March 2009. As and when I had gone through my preparation, I started to compile and share my experience to guide all couples.
This blog will assist you on the information on how you can start your wedding and some resources. So-called a useful blog that compile from my research and experience to provide all informations for all brides-to-be or grooms-to-be.
As I say, all informations compile from my research and experience, you will expect some copyrights from other articles & websites.
For advertising, you are always welcome to share with everyone. Give me your email and I will contact you directly. Advertising in this blog is FREE.
Hope this kit will be useful to you! Have fun!
Copyright 2008-2009 © wedding-prep-kit.blogspot.com & Other Websites
Past Updates
◕ October 2008
◕ November 2008
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◕ January 2009
◕ February 2009
◕ March 2009
◕ April 2009
◕ May 2009
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◕ August 2009
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
Representation of dowry
Baby’s bath: A sure indication that the bride wants to care for babies.
Lamps: They give light that spreads out good fortune and many children. Fueling and caring for the lamp mean more children. It's always a must to buy in a pair for lamps.
Washbowl: For the bride to wash her mother-in-law and father-in-law as a sign of respect.
Child’s bucket: Though it looks like a spittoon, it’s just a pot that has two oranges placed inside and is then covered with red paper. A male child in the bride’s new family is then invited to tear the paper, eat the fruit and pee in the pot meaning a prayer for male children.
Ruler: The bride and groom are ready to act as adults now meaning a symbol that they will always measure the consequences of what they do.
Towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pairs of slippers: Two of each because everything in a new home needs to be new. For the bride and for the groom, the slippers come with small silver coins to bring good fortune. (The slippers used to be clogs, “but young people don’t know how to walk in clogs nowadays!”)
A tea set: For the bride to serve tea to the parents. The tea set traditionally has cups with handles = ears = a daughter-in-law who will listen to her elders and betters.
Plus a special box containing:
- All sorts of beans = the start of a garden = growth and good fortune.
- Pin cushion decorated by many boys meaning you will be blessed with many boys
- Box of coloured threads + black + white meaning a life full of colour “until your hair turns from black to white.”
- A measuring tape meaning you will always be measuring yourself for new clothes = a life of plenty.
- A pair of scissors meaning you will always be cutting cloth to make new clothes = a life of plenty.Labels: tradition
|
Chinese Wedding Customs
Chinese wedding traditions are as varied and complex. During the centuries of ethnic Chinese migration throughout Asia, traditions have evolved and changed due to a myriad of regional and cultural influences. The traditions discussed here offer a preliminary overview for couples who wish to include elements of their Chinese heritage in their wedding plans.
Chinese Wedding Customs, Pre-wedding Day
Selecting an auspicious date (看日子)
It is customary for a Chinese couple to consult a fortune-teller or feng shui master to select an auspicious wedding date. Using the Chinese calendar, the date best suited for the couple is based on their birth dates and Chinese zodiac signs. It’s considered good luck to marry on an even day and month of the year.
There are many factors that will have to be taken into consideration when choosing a wedding date. The seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar is usually considered inauspicious. Traditionally, that is the time of the Hungry Ghost Festival, making it a less desirable time for a wedding.
After the selection of the wedding day, wedding details such as the types and quantities of betrothal gifts, bride’s price (聘金) and number of tables at the wedding banquet provided by the groom’s parents for the bride’s parents guests are agreed.
The Betrothal (过大礼/纳彩)
Because traditions are ever-changing, betrothal ceremonies ranged from a formal proposal letter to gift exchange. This gesture has a meaning to prove the sincerity towards the marriage between the binding of two families and the promises of taking care of the bride. Here are a few of the most practiced rituals.
Up to a month or at least three days before the wedding day, the groom’s family would present betrothal gifts to the bride’s family. The gifts include: Western and Chinese wedding cakes, peanut candies, two bottles of brandy, pig trotters (which is now being replaced by tin canned ones), even number of oranges, two pairs of dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤烛), jewellery from the groom’s parents to the bride such as the dragon and phoenix bangles (琢) or four items of gold (四点金). Some would also include the bride’s price with the betrothal gifts while others prefer to present it when the groom fetches the bride.
In exchange, the bride’s family will replace the 2 bottles of brandy with 2 bottles of orange syrup, even numbered portion of all the other gifts and 2 phoenix candles. The bride’s family will light the 2 dragon candles and the groom’s family the phoenix candles on the morning of the wedding day.
Some Hokkien families will also request for a bunch of bananas and red dates to be included in the gifts, a red packet for the groom’s parents to buy shoes is also required. The bride will also present towels to the parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, and groom’s siblings.
The gifts from the groom’s family acknowledged the bride’s parents’ efforts in raising the girl. By accepting these gifts, the bride’s family pledged her to the groom’s family.
After the betrothal, the Chinese wedding invitations are distributed.
The bride’s dowry (送嫁妆)
Dowry is a blessing from the bride's parents to their own daughter and future son in-law, it also symbolises that their precious daughter has grown up and ready to fullfill the role of someboby's wife. This procedure is done on an ausipious date chosen by a professional Feng Shui consultant before the wedding day.Dowry is a process where the bride's parents will buy items like bedsheet, baby prosperity set, toiletries like mug, toothbrush and toothpaste for the wedding couple to start a blessful marriage together. The individual items has a special meaning behind. All of them are blessing to the couples for a everlasting marriage and hopefully to carry on a prosper family line.
The Chinese dowries typically include:
- Beddings such as pillows, bolsters, comforter set, blankets, bed sheets, etc, all tied with red ribbons
- New clothes in a suitcase for the bride (in the past, wardrobes or wooden wedding chest are used)
- Tea set for the wedding tea ceremony
- Baby bathtub, potty, face wash basin, tumblers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mirror and comb
- Two pairs of red wooden clogs, wedding slippers or bedroom slippers
- Sewing basket with even-numbered rolls of colorful thread, needles, pin cushion, scissors and sewing wax with auspicious words written on it
- Jewellery given by the bride’s parents
Installing the bridal bed (按床)
In the past, as part of the pre-wedding preparations, couples were expected to acquire a new bed to sleep in as a married couple. Today, most couple simply prepares a bed with new linens, often red to symbolize good luck.
The bridal bed will be installed in the couple’s room before the wedding day on an auspicious selected date. A plate of dried longans, lotus seeds, red dates, persimmons, sprig of pomegranate leaves together with 2 red packets are placed on the bed. A pair of bedside lamps is lit to symbolize adding sons to the family.
The hair combing ceremony (梳头)
This ceremony is not always performed today, but it is a lovely ritual that is meaningful and simple to perform. The night before the wedding, after the bride showers, she will then take a seat within sight of moonlight or in front of a mirror. Her hair is combed by a woman (often her mother) who is considered to be fortunate in life.
Her hair is combed four times:
一梳到尾 : the first combing symbolizes “from beginning to the end”
二百年好合 : the second combing symbolizes harmony in your marriage
三子孙满堂 : the third combing is a blessing with many children and grand children
四白发齐眉 : the fourth combing offers hope for wealth and a marriage that lasts a lifetime
The groom also goes through this ceremony in his own home.
Items required:
- Pointed comb (Groom)
- Round Comb (Bride)
- Double-sided Comb (Groom and Bride)
- Sewing kit (Bride)
- 1 set of mirror (Groom and Bride)
- 1 red string (Groom and Bride)
- Ausipious Ruler (Groom and Bride)
Chinese Wedding Decorations (大喜装饰)
Double happiness (双喜) stickers will be placed on all wedding items such as the betrothal gifts, dowry, the couple’s toiletries and cosmetics. The bridal room furniture, especially the mirror and cupboards will also be decorated with the double happiness or other wedding paper cut-outs such as pairs of mandarin ducks, dragons and phoenixes, etc. Such red wedding paper cut-outs will also be placed on the main door, bridal room door and generally around the house.
A red banner (红彩帘) will be hung across the front doors of the two households to announce the joyous event.
Chinese Wedding Customs, The Wedding Day! (大喜日)
Hair dressing ritual (上头)
In the morning of the wedding day, a “hair-dressing” ritual is performed for the bride. A “good fortune” woman, often the bride’s mother will help to dress up the bride’s hair. She will say some auspicious words while tying up her hair in a bun (style of a married woman).
Fetching the Bride (迎亲)
In the morning of the wedding day, the groom together with a group of relatives and friends will go fetch the bride. They will carry a red tray containing a red packet with the bride’s price, pig trotters, which is the mother’s reward for bringing up the bride, even number of oranges, dried persimmons, longans, lotus seeds, and magnolia petals (pak hup – 百合).
Bride’s younger brother to open the bridal car door (小舅开车门)
The groom must not open the car door when he arrives to fetch his bride. The bride’s younger brother will pass him two oranges before opening the door. The two oranges will be left in the bridal car for good fortune. The groom will give this younger brother a red packet after he opens the car door. If the bride has no younger brother, a young male relative or a younger male friend can play the role.
Bridesmaid door games
When the groom arrived at the bride’s house, he and his bridal party will go through a mock bargaining session with the bride’s friends. The groom is often made to perform stunts or tricks before they ‘release’ the bride to him. The groom will try to buy his way in by presenting ‘Lai Shi’, token money in red packets. The entire ‘bargain’ process is joyous and good natured.
Chinese wedding ceremony (过门/拜堂成亲)
Chinese ceremonies are historically simple compared to other Chinese wedding elements. In fact, the wedding ceremony was seen more as a way to announce the wedding, which was then followed by the banquet. During the ceremony, the bride and groom would stand at the family alter, where the couple would pay homage to heaven and earth and the family ancestors. Tea, usually with lotus seeds and red dates would be offered to the groom’s parents. Finally the bride and groom would bow to each other, completing the ceremony.
The Nuptial Chamber (入洞房)
Immediately following the ceremony, the couple will be led to the bridal chamber, where both would sit on the bed. In some areas of China, honey and wine were poured into two goblets linked by a red thread. The bride and groom would take a few sips, then exchange cups and drink the rest.
Tea ceremony (敬茶)
It’s the quintessential Chinese wedding tradition: the tea ceremony. This time-honored exchange was created to show respect for the family. Historically, after they exchanged vows, the couple would serve tea to the groom’s family (the bride would have served tea privately to her own family that morning). Today many couples choose to honor both the bride and groom’s families by hosting tea ceremonies for both sets of parents.
If you are hosting two separate ceremonies, traditionally, it’s appropriate to honor the groom’s family first. The couple will serve tea to the grooms parents and elders in order of seniority. When tea is offered, the couple will receive red packets filled with money or jewellery. This is considered the formal introduction of the families.
Bride’s home visit (三朝回门)
Traditionally, the bride’s home visit is three days after the Chinese wedding ceremony. For efficiency, modern Chinese wedding usually compressed all the necessary events into a single day.
After the tea ceremony at the groom’s family home, the bride will change out of her clothing to symbolize passing of three days!
Article taken from a website!Labels: tradition
|
Installation of bridal bed (安床)
安床 simply refers to the installation of bridal bed. It is important to choose an auspicious date and time to install the bridal bed as a new branch of the family is starting soon! Some food and fruits that symbolise good fortune will be placed on the bed. Thereafter the bed will be left untouched until the wedding day.
Normally, a good fortune woman, one whose husband and children are all alive and has grandchildren, may install the bridal bed. The bridal bed is moved slightly to symbolize its installation. The good fortune woman will make the bed with the new set of bridal bed linen.
After making the bed, the good fortune woman will leave on the follwoing items on a plate. There are:
- Dried Red Dates - 红枣 (Signify 早) - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Peanuts - 花生 (Signify 生)
- Dried Longans - 桂圆 (Signify - 贵) - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Lotus seeds - 莲子(Signify - 子)
- Bulbs Lily - 百合 (Signify - 百年好合）
- Even number of tangerines or oranges - meaning good fortune
- Dried persimmons - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Pak hup [百合 - dried magnolia petals] stands for [百年好合] - meaning hundred years of harmony in the marriage
- Sprigs of pomegranate leaves - meaning power to ward off evil
- Two red packets - meaning good fortune
After placing the items on the bed, she will place 4 set of of Big & Small Yuan coin with twenty cents at 4 corners of bed under mattress.
In addition, a pair of bedside lamps will be lighted. In chinese, lamp [灯 “deng”] has the similar sound as son [丁 “ding”]. So lighting the lamps [添灯] is symbolic of adding sons [添丁] to the family. These lamps are not to be turned off until wedding night
Immediately after installing the bridal bed or on the wedding day, little children are invited to roll on the bed to bless the couple with fertility. To encourage them to get on the bed, they are allowed to eat the sweet stuff on that plate which the good fortune woman has left on the bed.
This is referred to as [压床] ”ya chuang” or [翻床] “fan chuang”.
Remember to give red packets to the good fortune woman and children for their help.
Procedures to Follow:
1) If groom's parents set up and position the bridal bed, the couple will have to give ang bao to each of them.
2) If couple set up and position the bridal bed, no ang bao will be given to anybody.
3) After everything set up, nobody is supposed to enter the master bedroom till the wedding day. If the groom want to sleep on it, he need a small boy to sleep with him. It is not wise to let him sleep alone as it signify the poor health for the other partner.
4) Leave Xi plate with longans and other items on bed for 12 days.
5) Boil water with longans and other items, then drink after 12 days. If fall short of 12 days, leave plate aside and boil with water once 12 days is up after customary.
6) Keep 2 ang pows but not allow to use the money inside.
7) Do not throw Yan Ji. Leave them there forever
There are Chinese Bridal Bed Taboos to take note:
1) Except for children who are thought to bless the couple with fertility, no other adult should sit or rest on the bridal bed after its installation and before the chinese wedding.
2) It is also taboo for the bride to lie on the bridal bed before the chinese wedding. It is believed that this will lead to her poor health.
3) If the groom has to sleep on the installed bridal bed before the chinese wedding, he should be accompanied by a young boy.
4) It is considered extremely unlucky to leave one side of the bed empty while the groom sleeps on the other side. The Taiwan chinese has a saying; [睏空舖，不死尪，亦死某] which means leaving one side of the bed empty is to curse death on either half of the new couple.
Compilation article taken from a website!Labels: tradition
|
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Tradition of Having Wedding Dinner
The banquet is an important part of Chinese culture. More than just a meal, it represents an opportunity to build relationships.
Dishes carry symbolic significance at a banquet including :
1) A cold platter of jellyfish and various meats arranged in dragon and phoenix shapes. In Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes the yang or male aspect, while the phoenix is a representation of the ying or female aspect. The dish, therefore, is a symbolic marriage of the ying and yang, which is a fundamental principle in Taoist belief.
2) Whole chicken dish serves to represent hopes for a good marriage and the union of two families. When served whole, the chicken emphasizes the ideal of family unity.
3) Duck represents fidelity.
4) Fish is usually served whole, and is a very important menu in a Chinese banquet. It is usually served last and the dish is pointed towards the guests of honour. The whole fish is a symbol of togetherness. The Chinese word for fish is yu and it is similar in sound to the words meaning 'abudance' and 'surplus'. So serving whole fish at the wedding banquet is believed to ensure that the couple will not lack for anything in the coming year.
5) Chinese dates, peanut, longan and sunflower seeds. The names of these four items spell out the phrase 'zao sheng gui zi', which means to have a precious or noble son very soon.Labels: tradition, wedding banquet
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Sunday, November 9, 2008
Representation of dowry
Baby’s bath: A sure indication that the bride wants to care for babies.
Lamps: They give light that spreads out good fortune and many children. Fueling and caring for the lamp mean more children. It's always a must to buy in a pair for lamps.
Washbowl: For the bride to wash her mother-in-law and father-in-law as a sign of respect.
Child’s bucket: Though it looks like a spittoon, it’s just a pot that has two oranges placed inside and is then covered with red paper. A male child in the bride’s new family is then invited to tear the paper, eat the fruit and pee in the pot meaning a prayer for male children.
Ruler: The bride and groom are ready to act as adults now meaning a symbol that they will always measure the consequences of what they do.
Towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pairs of slippers: Two of each because everything in a new home needs to be new. For the bride and for the groom, the slippers come with small silver coins to bring good fortune. (The slippers used to be clogs, “but young people don’t know how to walk in clogs nowadays!”)
A tea set: For the bride to serve tea to the parents. The tea set traditionally has cups with handles = ears = a daughter-in-law who will listen to her elders and betters.
Plus a special box containing:
- All sorts of beans = the start of a garden = growth and good fortune.
- Pin cushion decorated by many boys meaning you will be blessed with many boys
- Box of coloured threads + black + white meaning a life full of colour “until your hair turns from black to white.”
- A measuring tape meaning you will always be measuring yourself for new clothes = a life of plenty.
- A pair of scissors meaning you will always be cutting cloth to make new clothes = a life of plenty.Labels: tradition
|
Chinese Wedding Customs
Chinese wedding traditions are as varied and complex. During the centuries of ethnic Chinese migration throughout Asia, traditions have evolved and changed due to a myriad of regional and cultural influences. The traditions discussed here offer a preliminary overview for couples who wish to include elements of their Chinese heritage in their wedding plans.
Chinese Wedding Customs, Pre-wedding Day
Selecting an auspicious date (看日子)
It is customary for a Chinese couple to consult a fortune-teller or feng shui master to select an auspicious wedding date. Using the Chinese calendar, the date best suited for the couple is based on their birth dates and Chinese zodiac signs. It’s considered good luck to marry on an even day and month of the year.
There are many factors that will have to be taken into consideration when choosing a wedding date. The seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar is usually considered inauspicious. Traditionally, that is the time of the Hungry Ghost Festival, making it a less desirable time for a wedding.
After the selection of the wedding day, wedding details such as the types and quantities of betrothal gifts, bride’s price (聘金) and number of tables at the wedding banquet provided by the groom’s parents for the bride’s parents guests are agreed.
The Betrothal (过大礼/纳彩)
Because traditions are ever-changing, betrothal ceremonies ranged from a formal proposal letter to gift exchange. This gesture has a meaning to prove the sincerity towards the marriage between the binding of two families and the promises of taking care of the bride. Here are a few of the most practiced rituals.
Up to a month or at least three days before the wedding day, the groom’s family would present betrothal gifts to the bride’s family. The gifts include: Western and Chinese wedding cakes, peanut candies, two bottles of brandy, pig trotters (which is now being replaced by tin canned ones), even number of oranges, two pairs of dragon and phoenix candles (龙凤烛), jewellery from the groom’s parents to the bride such as the dragon and phoenix bangles (琢) or four items of gold (四点金). Some would also include the bride’s price with the betrothal gifts while others prefer to present it when the groom fetches the bride.
In exchange, the bride’s family will replace the 2 bottles of brandy with 2 bottles of orange syrup, even numbered portion of all the other gifts and 2 phoenix candles. The bride’s family will light the 2 dragon candles and the groom’s family the phoenix candles on the morning of the wedding day.
Some Hokkien families will also request for a bunch of bananas and red dates to be included in the gifts, a red packet for the groom’s parents to buy shoes is also required. The bride will also present towels to the parents, grandparents, aunt, uncles, and groom’s siblings.
The gifts from the groom’s family acknowledged the bride’s parents’ efforts in raising the girl. By accepting these gifts, the bride’s family pledged her to the groom’s family.
After the betrothal, the Chinese wedding invitations are distributed.
The bride’s dowry (送嫁妆)
Dowry is a blessing from the bride's parents to their own daughter and future son in-law, it also symbolises that their precious daughter has grown up and ready to fullfill the role of someboby's wife. This procedure is done on an ausipious date chosen by a professional Feng Shui consultant before the wedding day.Dowry is a process where the bride's parents will buy items like bedsheet, baby prosperity set, toiletries like mug, toothbrush and toothpaste for the wedding couple to start a blessful marriage together. The individual items has a special meaning behind. All of them are blessing to the couples for a everlasting marriage and hopefully to carry on a prosper family line.
The Chinese dowries typically include:
- Beddings such as pillows, bolsters, comforter set, blankets, bed sheets, etc, all tied with red ribbons
- New clothes in a suitcase for the bride (in the past, wardrobes or wooden wedding chest are used)
- Tea set for the wedding tea ceremony
- Baby bathtub, potty, face wash basin, tumblers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mirror and comb
- Two pairs of red wooden clogs, wedding slippers or bedroom slippers
- Sewing basket with even-numbered rolls of colorful thread, needles, pin cushion, scissors and sewing wax with auspicious words written on it
- Jewellery given by the bride’s parents
Installing the bridal bed (按床)
In the past, as part of the pre-wedding preparations, couples were expected to acquire a new bed to sleep in as a married couple. Today, most couple simply prepares a bed with new linens, often red to symbolize good luck.
The bridal bed will be installed in the couple’s room before the wedding day on an auspicious selected date. A plate of dried longans, lotus seeds, red dates, persimmons, sprig of pomegranate leaves together with 2 red packets are placed on the bed. A pair of bedside lamps is lit to symbolize adding sons to the family.
The hair combing ceremony (梳头)
This ceremony is not always performed today, but it is a lovely ritual that is meaningful and simple to perform. The night before the wedding, after the bride showers, she will then take a seat within sight of moonlight or in front of a mirror. Her hair is combed by a woman (often her mother) who is considered to be fortunate in life.
Her hair is combed four times:
一梳到尾 : the first combing symbolizes “from beginning to the end”
二百年好合 : the second combing symbolizes harmony in your marriage
三子孙满堂 : the third combing is a blessing with many children and grand children
四白发齐眉 : the fourth combing offers hope for wealth and a marriage that lasts a lifetime
The groom also goes through this ceremony in his own home.
Items required:
- Pointed comb (Groom)
- Round Comb (Bride)
- Double-sided Comb (Groom and Bride)
- Sewing kit (Bride)
- 1 set of mirror (Groom and Bride)
- 1 red string (Groom and Bride)
- Ausipious Ruler (Groom and Bride)
Chinese Wedding Decorations (大喜装饰)
Double happiness (双喜) stickers will be placed on all wedding items such as the betrothal gifts, dowry, the couple’s toiletries and cosmetics. The bridal room furniture, especially the mirror and cupboards will also be decorated with the double happiness or other wedding paper cut-outs such as pairs of mandarin ducks, dragons and phoenixes, etc. Such red wedding paper cut-outs will also be placed on the main door, bridal room door and generally around the house.
A red banner (红彩帘) will be hung across the front doors of the two households to announce the joyous event.
Chinese Wedding Customs, The Wedding Day! (大喜日)
Hair dressing ritual (上头)
In the morning of the wedding day, a “hair-dressing” ritual is performed for the bride. A “good fortune” woman, often the bride’s mother will help to dress up the bride’s hair. She will say some auspicious words while tying up her hair in a bun (style of a married woman).
Fetching the Bride (迎亲)
In the morning of the wedding day, the groom together with a group of relatives and friends will go fetch the bride. They will carry a red tray containing a red packet with the bride’s price, pig trotters, which is the mother’s reward for bringing up the bride, even number of oranges, dried persimmons, longans, lotus seeds, and magnolia petals (pak hup – 百合).
Bride’s younger brother to open the bridal car door (小舅开车门)
The groom must not open the car door when he arrives to fetch his bride. The bride’s younger brother will pass him two oranges before opening the door. The two oranges will be left in the bridal car for good fortune. The groom will give this younger brother a red packet after he opens the car door. If the bride has no younger brother, a young male relative or a younger male friend can play the role.
Bridesmaid door games
When the groom arrived at the bride’s house, he and his bridal party will go through a mock bargaining session with the bride’s friends. The groom is often made to perform stunts or tricks before they ‘release’ the bride to him. The groom will try to buy his way in by presenting ‘Lai Shi’, token money in red packets. The entire ‘bargain’ process is joyous and good natured.
Chinese wedding ceremony (过门/拜堂成亲)
Chinese ceremonies are historically simple compared to other Chinese wedding elements. In fact, the wedding ceremony was seen more as a way to announce the wedding, which was then followed by the banquet. During the ceremony, the bride and groom would stand at the family alter, where the couple would pay homage to heaven and earth and the family ancestors. Tea, usually with lotus seeds and red dates would be offered to the groom’s parents. Finally the bride and groom would bow to each other, completing the ceremony.
The Nuptial Chamber (入洞房)
Immediately following the ceremony, the couple will be led to the bridal chamber, where both would sit on the bed. In some areas of China, honey and wine were poured into two goblets linked by a red thread. The bride and groom would take a few sips, then exchange cups and drink the rest.
Tea ceremony (敬茶)
It’s the quintessential Chinese wedding tradition: the tea ceremony. This time-honored exchange was created to show respect for the family. Historically, after they exchanged vows, the couple would serve tea to the groom’s family (the bride would have served tea privately to her own family that morning). Today many couples choose to honor both the bride and groom’s families by hosting tea ceremonies for both sets of parents.
If you are hosting two separate ceremonies, traditionally, it’s appropriate to honor the groom’s family first. The couple will serve tea to the grooms parents and elders in order of seniority. When tea is offered, the couple will receive red packets filled with money or jewellery. This is considered the formal introduction of the families.
Bride’s home visit (三朝回门)
Traditionally, the bride’s home visit is three days after the Chinese wedding ceremony. For efficiency, modern Chinese wedding usually compressed all the necessary events into a single day.
After the tea ceremony at the groom’s family home, the bride will change out of her clothing to symbolize passing of three days!
Article taken from a website!Labels: tradition
|
Installation of bridal bed (安床)
安床 simply refers to the installation of bridal bed. It is important to choose an auspicious date and time to install the bridal bed as a new branch of the family is starting soon! Some food and fruits that symbolise good fortune will be placed on the bed. Thereafter the bed will be left untouched until the wedding day.
Normally, a good fortune woman, one whose husband and children are all alive and has grandchildren, may install the bridal bed. The bridal bed is moved slightly to symbolize its installation. The good fortune woman will make the bed with the new set of bridal bed linen.
After making the bed, the good fortune woman will leave on the follwoing items on a plate. There are:
- Dried Red Dates - 红枣 (Signify 早) - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Peanuts - 花生 (Signify 生)
- Dried Longans - 桂圆 (Signify - 贵) - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Lotus seeds - 莲子(Signify - 子)
- Bulbs Lily - 百合 (Signify - 百年好合）
- Even number of tangerines or oranges - meaning good fortune
- Dried persimmons - meaning bless the marriage with sweetness
- Pak hup [百合 - dried magnolia petals] stands for [百年好合] - meaning hundred years of harmony in the marriage
- Sprigs of pomegranate leaves - meaning power to ward off evil
- Two red packets - meaning good fortune
After placing the items on the bed, she will place 4 set of of Big & Small Yuan coin with twenty cents at 4 corners of bed under mattress.
In addition, a pair of bedside lamps will be lighted. In chinese, lamp [灯 “deng”] has the similar sound as son [丁 “ding”]. So lighting the lamps [添灯] is symbolic of adding sons [添丁] to the family. These lamps are not to be turned off until wedding night
Immediately after installing the bridal bed or on the wedding day, little children are invited to roll on the bed to bless the couple with fertility. To encourage them to get on the bed, they are allowed to eat the sweet stuff on that plate which the good fortune woman has left on the bed.
This is referred to as [压床] ”ya chuang” or [翻床] “fan chuang”.
Remember to give red packets to the good fortune woman and children for their help.
Procedures to Follow:
1) If groom's parents set up and position the bridal bed, the couple will have to give ang bao to each of them.
2) If couple set up and position the bridal bed, no ang bao will be given to anybody.
3) After everything set up, nobody is supposed to enter the master bedroom till the wedding day. If the groom want to sleep on it, he need a small boy to sleep with him. It is not wise to let him sleep alone as it signify the poor health for the other partner.
4) Leave Xi plate with longans and other items on bed for 12 days.
5) Boil water with longans and other items, then drink after 12 days. If fall short of 12 days, leave plate aside and boil with water once 12 days is up after customary.
6) Keep 2 ang pows but not allow to use the money inside.
7) Do not throw Yan Ji. Leave them there forever
There are Chinese Bridal Bed Taboos to take note:
1) Except for children who are thought to bless the couple with fertility, no other adult should sit or rest on the bridal bed after its installation and before the chinese wedding.
2) It is also taboo for the bride to lie on the bridal bed before the chinese wedding. It is believed that this will lead to her poor health.
3) If the groom has to sleep on the installed bridal bed before the chinese wedding, he should be accompanied by a young boy.
4) It is considered extremely unlucky to leave one side of the bed empty while the groom sleeps on the other side. The Taiwan chinese has a saying; [睏空舖，不死尪，亦死某] which means leaving one side of the bed empty is to curse death on either half of the new couple.
Compilation article taken from a website!Labels: tradition
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Tradition of Having Wedding Dinner
The banquet is an important part of Chinese culture. More than just a meal, it represents an opportunity to build relationships.
Dishes carry symbolic significance at a banquet including :
1) A cold platter of jellyfish and various meats arranged in dragon and phoenix shapes. In Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes the yang or male aspect, while the phoenix is a representation of the ying or female aspect. The dish, therefore, is a symbolic marriage of the ying and yang, which is a fundamental principle in Taoist belief.
2) Whole chicken dish serves to represent hopes for a good marriage and the union of two families. When served whole, the chicken emphasizes the ideal of family unity.
3) Duck represents fidelity.
4) Fish is usually served whole, and is a very important menu in a Chinese banquet. It is usually served last and the dish is pointed towards the guests of honour. The whole fish is a symbol of togetherness. The Chinese word for fish is yu and it is similar in sound to the words meaning 'abudance' and 'surplus'. So serving whole fish at the wedding banquet is believed to ensure that the couple will not lack for anything in the coming year.
5) Chinese dates, peanut, longan and sunflower seeds. The names of these four items spell out the phrase 'zao sheng gui zi', which means to have a precious or noble son very soon.Labels: tradition, wedding banquet
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