Chinese Wedding Customs 1 – Pre-wedding Day
Selection of auspicious dates 看日子
Auspicious dates are required for the chinese wedding, the betrothal and installation of the bridal bed. A chinese monk, a temple official or a fortune teller are able to advice on a suitable date based around the couple’s birth dates and times. Some may perhaps also refer towards the chinese calendar or almanac for excellent days. Commonly, even numbered months and dates are preferred and also the lunar seventh month is avoided as it’s the month with the Hungry Ghost Festival.
After the selection with the auspicious dates, wedding party details just like types and quantities of betrothal gifts, return gifts, bride’s cost 娉, and amount of tables at the wedding banquet provided by the groom’s parents with the bride’s parents’ guest are agreed.
Betrothal 过大礼/纳©
Up to a month and at the least three days before the wedding party day, the groom plus a friend or perhaps a matchmaker will deliver the betrothal gifts around the auspicious date chosen.
Western and chinese wedding cakes, peanut candies, together with two bottles of brandy, at the very least six tins of canned pork legs and even number of oranges are included inside wedding party gift baskets. Two pairs of dragon and phoenix candles 龙凤烛are also included. Also included is gold jewellery from the groom’s mom and dad for the bride just like the cantonese’s dragon and phoenix bangle 龙凤琢 or the teochew’s four items of gold四点金.
Some consist of the bride’s price with all the betrothal gifts whereas some will only present it when the groom fetches the bride.
In the return gifts, the two bottles of brandy will be replaced with a couple of bottles of orange syrup. An even numbered portion of all the other gifts are returned towards the groom’s family members together with the 2 phoenix candles. The bride’s side will light the two dragon candles along with the groom’s side the phoenix candles around the morning from the wedding ceremony day.
Some hokkien household will also request for a bunch of bananas and red dates to be included inside return gifts. A red packet to the groom’s mother and father to purchase shoes is essential. The bride will also present towels on the moms and dads, grandparents, aunt, uncles and groom’s siblings.
Right after the betrothal, the chinese wedding party invitations are distributed.
Provide the bride’s dowry 送嫁妆
The bride’s mom and dad may well include things like the bride’s dowry while using the return gifts on the day of betrothal or deliver the dowry a few days just before the wedding ceremony. The chinese dowry typically involve
- beddings just like pillows, bolsters, comforter set, blankets, bed sheets, etc., all tied with red ribbons;
- new clothes in a suitcase to the bride (within the past, wardrobes or wooden wedding chests are utilized.);
- tea set with the wedding party tea ceremony;
- baby bathtub, potty, face washbasin, tumblers, toothpaste and toothbrushes, mirror, comb;
- two pairs of red wooden clogs wedding slippers or bedroom slippers;
- sewing basket with even numbered rolls of colourful thread, needles, pincushion, scissors, and sewing wax with auspicious words on it;
- gold jewellery given by bride’s mother and father.
Install the bridal bed 按åº
A very good fortune woman will install the bridal bed inside the bridal room up to 12 days ahead of the wedding party day on an auspicious date. New red or pink bedsheets are employed along with a plate of dried longans, lotus seeds, red dates, persimmons, sprig of pomegranate leaves together with two red packets are placed about the bed. A pair of bedside lamps is lit to symbolize adding sons to the household.
Hair combing ceremony 梳头
Great fortune women will conduct this ceremony for your bride and groom in their respective homes the night previous to the chinese wedding ceremony. Right after showering with water infused with pomelo or pomegranate leaves, the bride and groom will change into a new set of clothing and shoes. The excellent fortune women will bless them aloud as they sit in front of an open window with a visible moon or in front with the mirror.
The four blessings are:
一梳梳到尾,(Initial combing, together all your lives)
二梳百年好合,(Second combing, harmony in your marriage)
梳子孙满堂,(Third combing, blessed with quite a few children and grandchildren)
四梳白发齐眉。(Fourth combing, blessed with longevity.)
Sweet pink rice ball soup汤圆 are going to be served immediately after the hair combing ceremony to wish the couple a complete and sweet marriage.
Chinese wedding party decorations 大喜装°
Double joy 双喜stickers is going to be placed on all wedding ceremony items for instance the betrothal gifts, dowry, the couple’s toiletries and cosmetics. The bridal room furniture, specifically the mirror and cupboards will also be decorated while using double joy or other wedding party paper cutouts including pairs of mandarin ducks, dragon and phoenix, etc. These kinds of red wedding party paper cutouts will also be put up within the main door, bridal room door and usually around the house.
A red banner 红彩帘 will be hung across the front doors of the two household to announce the joyous event.