The customs of Chinese weddings include giving dowry, arranging the bridal chamber, holding a red umbrella, crying for marriage, carrying the bride onto the sedan chair, and worshipping in the hall.
1. Dowry
Accompanying the bride's family is a symbol of her family status and wealth. The dowry shall be delivered to the husband's family no later than the day before the wedding. Besides clothing and ACCESSORIES, dowry mainly consists of things that symbolize good signs, although customs and customs vary from place to place.
2. Pavilions
The ceremony of sending people from the female family to the male family to build a new house is sometimes carried out simultaneously with the delivery of makeup. The person in charge of the house must be a "good fortune woman" with both good fortune and longevity, and a wealthy family background, in order to obtain good luck. This custom is still popular in some places in modern times.
3. Holding a red umbrella
On the day of the wedding, the bride's sister or bridesmaid supports the bride's house and stands in the open air. The sister or bridesmaid holds a red umbrella above the bride's head, meaning "spreading branches and leaves", and scatters rice to the sky and the top of the umbrella.
4. Crying Marriage
In ancient times, due to the lack of modern transportation convenience, it was difficult for daughters to have the opportunity to see their families after getting married. In fact, married women are not allowed to return to their parents' home to visit their families at any time, as they do today. They need approval from their husband's family to return to their parents' home. In addition, there is also a saying that "crying for marriage" originated from ancient times when women could not have free marriage, so they would use the song of crying for marriage to accuse the unfair marriage system in ancient times.
5. Go out
Going out refers to the bride leaving her family's home. When the auspicious time arrives, the bride must be carried by Sister Da Nian onto the sedan chair; It is said that if the bride lands on both feet, it will bring bad luck. When going out, the bride's sister-in-law cannot be sent as a gift, because the character 'sister-in-law' has a homophonic sound with the character 'sweeping broom star', which is believed by old people to bring bad luck to sending sister-in-law as a gift when going out.
6. Worship Hall
Also known as "worshiping heaven and earth", it is a very important ceremony in weddings. 'Baitang' does not belong to the ancient 'Three Books and Six Rites'. This marriage custom became very popular after the Song Dynasty, and after' Baitang ', the female party officially became a member of the male family. During the "worship hall" ceremony, the emcee in charge of the wedding will loudly say, "First, worship heaven and earth; second, worship the high hall; husband and wife should worship each other and enter the bridal chamber together." In fact, worshiping heaven and earth represents reverence for the gods of heaven and earth; And worshiping the high hall is a manifestation of filial piety; As for the worship between husband and wife, it represents that they respect each other as guests.