This next stop on our tour around the world for wedding traditions takes us to China. Sometimes referred to as ‘The Red Dragon’, China is a land filled with a rich history. The Chinese are very proud of their culture and their traditions and today we’ll learn a little bit more about Chinese weddings and their unique customs.
Let’s get started on our journey.
The Color Red and its Significance in Chinese Weddings
Within Chinese culture, the color red symbolizes good luck, great fortune, happiness, and of course love. It is customary for a Chinese bride to wear the color red at some point throughout her wedding day. Red is usually complemented by gold.
The dress isn’t the only thing that’s red, however. Leading up to the day of the wedding, elements can be found in the wedding invitations along with any gifts that are given to the couple.
Of great importance within the Chinese culture is that wedding guests should avoid wearing red because it is reserved for the couple and in particular, the bride. Other colors to avoid are black and white. These colors are usually worn to funerals which is a somber occasion and can also bring bad luck to the marriage.
Setting the Wedding Date and Sending Invitations
It is customary for a newly engaged Chinese couple to seek advice when choosing a wedding date. They usually consult with a Monk, a fortune teller, or the traditional Chinese calendar.
There are a few days that are considered to be unlucky for a wedding within Chinese culture. They are March, August, and September 18. Of course, any couple that’s getting married chooses a date that is suitable not only for them but for their wedding party and guests as well.
Double Happiness
The ‘Double Happiness’ symbol is one of the most recognizable icons for any traditional Chinese wedding. In Chinese, double happiness is pronounced ‘shuāngxǐ’ and is incorporated as much as possible in things such as wedding decorations, wedding invitations as well as on red envelopes given to the couple as gifts on their wedding day.
Hair-Combing Ceremonies
The hair-combing tradition usually takes place the day before the wedding. It is customary for the ceremony to take place at the bride’s home but in some parts of the culture, it is also carried out at the groom’s home as well.
The hair-combing ceremony is symbolic of the couple’s transition from childhood to adulthood. Within the bride’s home, it is her mother, a person of good fortune, who carries out the ceremony.
Dragon phoenix candles are lit, and blessings for the couple are recited as the bride’s hair is combed. A more modern twist to this ceremony can take place on the day of the wedding while the bride gets dressed.
‘Chuangmen’ Traditions at Chinese Weddings
Chuangmen traditions are also known as Chinese door games. This tradition dates back to a time when the daughter and soon-to-be bride of a family, was seen as a very prized possession worth so much. Because of this, the bride could not be given to her husband without him paying a cost.
The groom had to pass a series of tests to prove that he was deserving of his bride. Today, door games are hosted by the bridesmaids and they ‘refuse to surrender the bride’ until the groom is successful in the tests that are given to him.
It is customary for modern-day door games to be played at the couple’s banquet.
The Process of Getting Married
The wedding ceremony isn’t the highlight of Chinese culture. The actual wedding ceremony is usually a small gathering that takes place at a courthouse or government office. The small ceremony usually ends with a prayer and is followed by the tea ceremony.
The Tea Ceremony
Chinese wedding traditions have more than one component to form the actual wedding. Unlike the western world which usually has a wedding ceremony and reception, the Chinese culture is a little different.
After the small wedding ceremony, the tea ceremony follows right after. The tea ceremony is how the newlywed Chinese couple honors their parents. In the past, the tea ceremony was separate from the banquet, but these days it is incorporated into it.
The Banquets at Chinese Weddings
The banquet or as we know it in the western world, the wedding reception, is the main event for a traditional Chinese wedding.
The banquet is a celebration of the bride and groom and the future they have to look forward to as a married couple. A traditional Chinese banquet can go on for quite a few hours and has a large multi-course feast. Every course of the meal symbolizes something good for the couple.
During the banquet ceremony, the couple is given blessings of happiness, prosperity, and abundance by friends and family.
Final Notes
The Chinese have a rich and vibrant culture when it comes to wedding traditions. As with all other wedding traditions from around the world, it is a happy time for not just the bride and groom, but everyone who shares the moment with them.
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