The betrothal gift generally has two meanings: one is a gift given as a sign of respect when hiring; Another type is often used in daily life to give gifts to each other during engagements, that is, to give money or things to each other for marriage.
1、 The amount of dowry
It mainly includes two parts: one is the item; The second is gift money. There is no standard number or rigid rule for the betrothal gift, and the amount is determined based on one's own or one's own economic strength and the couple's plans for married life.
2、 Time for betrothal gifts
It depends on whether the elders need to follow the local customs and habits. If one parent has a request, then try to give according to the request as much as possible; If there are no customary requirements, then the betrothal gift can be handed over to the other party's parents at the banquet of the wedding banquet. If there is no wedding banquet booked, the bride price can also be given when both parents meet before receiving the marriage certificate.
3、 Eight essential folk betrothal gifts
1. Comb
The saying goes, 'One comb to the end, two combs of white hair to the eyebrows, and three combs to fill the house with grandchildren.' Combs have the meaning of 'tying hair,' especially with white heads, referring to a couple's lifelong love and companionship, growing old together.
2. Ruler
Measuring tools, extended in marital life, are the standard for measuring happiness, referring to a hundred children and a thousand grandchildren. Happiness has a long history and is also a blessing for the couple's future career advancement.
3. Money Box
The ninth treasure in the Nine Treasures is the money box, which is one of the wedding gifts given by the bride to indicate her wealthy family background. It is also used by the bride to collect her beloved treasures after marriage.
4. Ruyi Scale
The Ruyi scale, which is used in traditional wedding ceremonies for the groom to lift the bride's red veil, is now one of the nine wedding treasures given by parents to their daughter. They hope that their daughter's future life will be satisfactory and that the couple will be happy together.
5. Mirror
Representing completeness, fulfillment, and symbolizing the beautiful appearance of the bride, it is a wish for a sweet and happy marriage life for the bride; Even though time passes, it remains a beautiful symbol of youth and beauty.
6. Dou Dou
Originally a tool for measuring grain, it was used in wedding ceremonies to showcase one's wealth and prosperity, indicating that one can also live a comfortable and worry free life after marriage.
7. Scissors
It is one of the "six certificates" in traditional weddings, mainly used for clothing cutting in daily life. In wedding etiquette, it symbolizes the bride's life after marriage, with silk and satin, a bright future, and shared prosperity and wealth in life.
8. Abacus
The calculation tool used in daily life to calculate income and expenses, the thousand foot golden abacus in wedding etiquette, symbolizes the ideal and planning of the newlyweds for a peaceful and prosperous future life, enabling them to invest and manage their finances reasonably and win abundant wealth.