Franklin Dean
Chinese weddings are steeped in ancient traditions and rituals that are passed down through the generations. These customs are designed to bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity, and longevity. One such tradition is the kissing of an orange and a wall adorned with baby pictures, symbolizing good luck, prosperity, and the hope of starting a family. Another ritual sees the groom bribe the bridesmaids to gain entry into the bride's home, lift her veil, and bestow a kiss upon her. While these practices are unique to Chinese weddings, kissing as a social greeting is generally not customary in Chinese culture, with some considering it a Western custom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bride and groom attire | Formal attire to show respect to each other and their families |
| Gifts | Bottles of hard liquor, cakes, fruits |
| Groom's behaviour | Courteous, sincere and respectful |
| Timing | Avoid the first and seventh month of the Lunar calendar as it is considered inauspicious |
| Tea ceremony | Kneel down in front of the bride's parents and offer tea to them, receive gold jewellery from them |
| Kissing | The groom kisses an orange, then kisses the bride |
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What You'll Learn
- Chinese wedding customs include kissing an orange and a wall with baby pictures
- The groom must bribe the bridesmaids to gain entry to the bride's home
- The groom and his parents bring gifts like liquor, cakes, or fruits to the bride's family
- The bride and groom dress in red, symbolizing happiness
- Games at Chinese weddings have been criticized for being sexually suggestive
Chinese wedding customs include kissing an orange and a wall with baby pictures
Chinese weddings are steeped in ancient traditions and rituals that are intended to bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity, and longevity. One such custom involves the groom kissing an orange and a wall with baby pictures.
In Chinese culture, oranges symbolise good luck and prosperity, while the baby pictures on the wall signify the couple's wish to have children and start a family. This custom is often performed as part of the wedding festivities, with the groom being blindfolded and led to a room by the bridesmaids. After kissing the orange and the wall, the groom's blindfold is removed, and he is reunited with his bride.
Chinese weddings also include other traditional practices such as the tea ceremony, which is a way to pay respect to both sets of parents. The couple kneels in front of their parents and offers them tea, while the parents offer gold jewellery to the bride and groom as a symbol of good fortune. Another ritual is the exchange of betrothal gifts, including food items such as oranges, peanuts, and dates, which symbolise the wish for early childbirth.
In addition to these customs, Chinese weddings often involve a series of rites and rituals before the wedding day, such as the "three letters and six rites". One of these rites is the groom formally asking for the bride's hand in marriage, known as "提亲" (tí qīn). During this ritual, the groom and his parents bring gifts such as liquor, cakes, or fruits to the bride's family. The selection of an auspicious date for the wedding is also an important aspect of Chinese pre-wedding customs.
Overall, Chinese wedding customs, including kissing an orange and a wall with baby pictures, are filled with symbolism and rituals that honour the couple's ancestors and wish them a happy and prosperous future together.
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The groom must bribe the bridesmaids to gain entry to the bride's home
Chinese weddings are steeped in ancient traditions and rituals that are designed to bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity, and longevity. One such tradition involves the groom having to "bribe" the bridesmaids with ang baos to gain entry to the bride's home. This is part of the 迎亲 (welcoming the relatives) and 闯门 (gate-crashing) ceremony.
In modern Singapore, Chinese weddings often include this ritual where the groom and his groomsmen must complete a series of games or challenges set by the bridesmaids. Only after successfully completing these tasks and bribing the bridesmaids with ang baos (red packets containing money) can the groom enter the bride's home and see her. This tradition is a fun and light-hearted way to include the couple's friends in the wedding celebrations and is a more recent development, as traditionally weddings were solely family affairs.
The bride's departure from her family home is also significant in Chinese weddings, as it marks a permanent rite of passage. Traditionally, Chinese brides would leave their family home to live with their husband's family after the wedding. Therefore, the bride's departure on the day of the wedding is an emotional moment for her and her family.
Before the wedding day, the groom is also expected to pay a formal visit to the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage. This ritual is known as 提亲. During this visit, the groom and his parents bring gifts such as liquor, cakes, or fruits as a sign of respect and sincerity. The groom is expected to be courteous, sincere, and respectful, especially when discussing wedding plans with the bride's family.
Overall, while Chinese weddings nowadays often incorporate modern elements, many couples still choose to include these traditional rituals to honor their cultural heritage and seek blessings for their married life together.
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The groom and his parents bring gifts like liquor, cakes, or fruits to the bride's family
In Chinese weddings, there are many rituals and traditions that are performed to bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity, and longevity. One such tradition is the groom's formal visit to the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage, known as "提亲" ("ti qin"). During this ritual, the groom and his parents bring gifts such as liquor, cakes, or fruits as a token of good manners and sincerity.
The specific gifts brought by the groom and his parents hold symbolic significance. Liquor, for instance, represents unity and is often consumed by the couple during the wedding ceremony from a pair of vessels made from the same gourd. This act symbolises their union as a couple. Cakes and fruits, on the other hand, symbolise the sweetness and abundance that the couple wishes for in their married life.
The groom's visit to the bride's family is a respectful and courteous gesture. He should be well-mannered and sincere, especially when discussing wedding plans such as the date, location, and guest list. This tradition is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and is considered a crucial step in gaining the bride's family's blessing for the marriage.
In addition to gift-giving, the groom may also be expected to pay a bride price, which is common in Chinese culture. The bride price can vary depending on the social status and background of the bride and is often a way for the groom to demonstrate his financial ability to support the bride and her family. While some modern couples may choose to forgo certain traditions, the gift-giving custom during "ti qin" remains an important part of Chinese wedding rituals, honouring the values of respect and sincerity.
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The bride and groom dress in red, symbolizing happiness
Chinese weddings are full of ancient traditions and rituals that bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity, and longevity. One of the most prominent traditions is the bride's wedding attire, which is typically a bold red dress. This custom began over 650 years ago during the Ming Dynasty and is still practised today. Red symbolises happiness, joy, good fortune, and success in Chinese culture, making it an auspicious colour for a wedding.
The groom traditionally wears a Zhongshan suit, a modern take on the traditional Chinese outfit. This sleek and refined outfit emerged in the 20th century and resembles a Western suit with Eastern details, such as a Mandarin collar and overlapping lapels secured with five buttons. It is usually blue, green, or grey. However, some grooms may opt for more traditional attire in black, red, or gold, with designs ranging from simple to intricate patterns featuring symbols like dragons, phoenixes, or clouds.
The bride's choice to wear red extends beyond the wedding day itself and is often chosen to honour her heritage. During the Lunar New Year, wearing red exemplifies joy and happiness, so it is only fitting that brides choose this colour to celebrate their marriage. The colour red is also incorporated into other aspects of the wedding, such as decorations and invitations, as well as red envelopes given out during the tea ceremony.
In addition to the bride's attire, another traditional custom is the honggaitou, or red veil, worn by Han Chinese brides to cover their faces during the wedding ceremony before their wedding night. This tradition originated during the Song Dynasty and continues to be practised today, although many brides now opt for a white veil influenced by Western culture. The honggaitou is not compulsory, as other types of headwear, such as the fengguan, have also been used in traditional Chinese weddings.
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Games at Chinese weddings have been criticized for being sexually suggestive
Chinese wedding door games, also known as "chuangmen", are an important part of Chinese weddings. These games are usually set up by the bridesmaids for the groom and his groomsmen as a ceremonial demonstration of the groom's love for the bride. The games typically take place on the morning of the wedding at the bride's family home and include the consumption of unpleasant foods, answering questions about the bride and the relationship, and performing songs and dances.
While these games are meant to be fun and lighthearted, some have criticized them for being sexually suggestive. One example is the "sausage game", which involves the groom performing push-ups over his best man while eating a piece of food, such as a sausage, from his mouth. Another game involves the groom and his groomsmen plucking food off a limbo stick while dancing underneath. These physical challenges, while intended to be humorous, have been seen by some as inappropriate and degrading.
In addition to the games themselves, the tradition of the groom "buying" his way into the bride's home has also been criticized. This practice, known as "naohun" or "creating turbulence", involves the groom bribing the bridesmaids with red envelopes of money or "ang baos" to gain entry to the bride's home. While it is meant to symbolize the groom's commitment and resolve, some view it as objectifying the bride and perpetuating the idea that she is a commodity to be purchased.
Furthermore, the consumption of bitter foods and drinks during the door games has been interpreted by some as suggestive. Bitter tea and bitter gourd are traditionally included to represent the "sorrows" that the couple may encounter in their marriage. However, when consumed in excess, these foods can cause unpleasant physical reactions, such as facial contortions, which may be perceived as sexually suggestive.
The criticism of Chinese wedding door games highlights the potential for cultural practices to be misinterpreted or seen through a modern lens that differs from traditional values. While some may view these games as harmless fun, others argue that they reinforce gender stereotypes and contribute to a culture of objectification and sexualization. As a result, there is a growing movement towards adapting traditional wedding customs to better reflect modern sensibilities while still honoring cultural heritage.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Chinese couples do kiss at weddings. In fact, kissing is a part of Chinese wedding traditions. For example, during the 迎亲 and 闯门 ceremony, the groom kisses the bride after lifting her veil. Another tradition involves the couple kissing an orange, which symbolises good luck and prosperity.
Chinese weddings are rich with ancient traditions and rituals that bless the newlyweds with happiness, fertility, prosperity and longevity. One such tradition is the tea ceremony, which involves offering tea to the parents and receiving gold jewellery in return as a symbol of good fortune. Another tradition is for the couple to dress in red, which is considered a symbol of happiness.
In Chinese culture, the groom is required to pay a formal visit to the bride's family to ask for her hand in marriage in a ritual known as 提亲. During this visit, the groom and his parents bring gifts such as bottles of liquor, cakes or fruits as a show of respect and sincerity.
