The earlier Chinese always believed in destiny. At birth, so the tale is going, the gods tie up a red-colored line close to the ankles of the male and female who will be life partner to each other in the future. As time pass, the line becomes shorter and shorter till the two fall in love each to others. How would you realise you have found out your own destiny? In China traditions, the mother and father of the future husband wrote the woman’s “8 characters”, her year, month, day and hour of birth on paper and then put it around the family altar. And If the following 3 days, not a thing terrible happened within their family, for example a disease or perhaps a cracked vase or plate, so the match was accepted. The woman’s family used the similar ritual. If everything is good, the celebration started.
The Engagement
In earlier periods of China Traditional, twelve presents were exchanged by the 2 families to deal on the wedding agreement. Several, like the present of chopsticks, were a symbol. The phrase of chopsticks in China is “kuai zi”, sounds like “fast boy”. The earlier Chinese like son better then daughter. The present of a entire roast pig from future husband’s family to woman’s family have also been a common wedding present,many chinese people around the world still continue this todays. In olden times, the woman’s family will give back the pig’s head and also hind portion. To declare a wedding in China, the woman’s family provides cakes for the man’s family to give to their friends and family.
The Wedding Costumes
Qi Pao
Traditional Chinese wedding costumes are red, describes as lucky since Ming dynasty. Commonly, brides coming from northern China put on dress like the qi pao, brides from southern put on a two-piece costume, or hong qua. Both were elaborately decorated with golden phoenixes as symbol for the bride, together with chrysanthemums and peonies as symbols of wealth and good luck. On her head put on a phoenix crown, a headdress of kingfisher pearls and feathers, plus a red-colored veil to protect her from the heavens before she arrived at her husband’s house.
The Ceremony
Firecrackers welcomed the bride when she reached the wedding ceremony to frighten away evil. The traditional wedding vow was: The wedding couple knelt before a altar filled with tributes including roast pig, chikens and ducks, and decorated using red-colored candles. Utilizing delicate cups tied up along with red-colored line, the happy couple drink wine as traditional vow. Crossing hands,exchange cups and then drink again. The giving and interacting of wine indicates their relationship is going to be harmonious. For a final ritual, a cha tao or tea ceremony is usually performed. Beginning with the oldest member of the family from the husband’s side, the woman serves a cup of tea to every new relative.
The Food
For Chinese, the wedding banquet will be the way to express the wealth of the host. Dish after dish of delicious meats, seafoods, noodles and rice food come up from the cooking area. Luxurious dishes including shark’s fin soups, bird’s nest soups and abalone confirm the host’s generosity. Foods are dished up for symbolism. Entire fish is nearly at all times dished up: The word of fish, yu, sounds similar to “wealth.” The noodles length symbols of long life, will also be served sometimes. Desserts which include lotus seeds are dished up as a wish for the happy couple to own a lot of children.