There are many beautiful things to learn behind the colorful Chinese wedding traditions. Each ritual in the wedding processions has meaning and wishes behind that. Let’s understand a bit more about the culture and the steps of Chinese Weddings.
1. Guo Da Li – The Betrothal in Chinese Wedding Traditions
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Guo Dali is a betrothal ceremony in Chinese weddings. It shows how willing the groom is in marrying the bride. The groom and an elder family relative will visit the bride’s home. They will bring a gift representing fertility and fortune. The visit is about 2 weeks before the wedding day. After Guo Da Li, the bride’s family will come to the groom’s house with returning gifts. The ceremony is called Huo Li.
2. Auspicious Wedding Date
The auspicious date tradition is rooted in different culture including the Chinese’s. They consult a Feng Shui Master when they are doing important things, such as weddings or moving to a new house. The Feng Shui Master needs to know about the couples and their parents’ Chinese zodiac. Then, after he got all the information, he will start give the date. He will also ask about the couple’s birth dates.
3. Chinese Tea Tradition – The Welcoming for the Brides/Grooms in Chinese Wedding Traditions
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The Chinese Tea wedding traditions symbolize the unity of the two families. Here, the bride and groom will serve tea to the parents in law, parents and other family members. They will dress in the traditional Chinese costumes and kneel when serving the tea. When the in law family members are drinking the tea, it means they are receiving the bride/groom as a family member. Sometimes, there will be flowers or fruit in the tea to resemble luck or fertility.
4. Hair Combing Ceremony
The Hair Combing Ceremony symbolizes that the couples already reach their adulthood. They are ready to tie the knot. The ceremony should be attended by the parents. Yet, if the parents are not present, a female representative with surviving husband, children will represent them. The proxy will recite the blessings while the couples are combing their hair four times.
5. Collecting The Bride
This tradition has been somehow altered with the modernization. Before, it was a big procession that marches passing through the village and town. It would have a child in front of the march as a symbol of fertility. Now, picking up the bride will involve luxury cars, and lion dance troupe. The kid that walks in front of the procession is also optional.
6. Wedding Banquet – The Reception in Chinese Wedding Traditions
The wedding banquet will invite about 100 people. The couples’ parents will host the reception. The banquet will serve 8-course meal. Each has symbols in Chinese tradition, such as suckling pig for the bride’s purity or shark fin soup for unity. The families will visit each table to request blessings from all invites.
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To summarize, traditions might be modernized, but some Chinese wedding traditions are unskippable. Each part has different symbols for the brides, grooms, and the family members.