Exploring Racist Connotations Of Chinese Wedding Cakes

Chinese wedding cakes, also known as dowry cakes or marry girl cakes, are traditional pastries with a variety of fillings and symbolic meanings. They are an important part of the pre-wedding ceremony called the Guo Da Li, during which the groom presents gifts to the bride's family. While the specific traditions and styles of Chinese wedding cakes vary across different regions, they are typically brightly coloured and hold symbolic significance for the couple. In recent years, Western-style cakes have also gained popularity in China, especially among younger generations in urban areas.

Chinese wedding cakes are not actually cakes

In the past, Chinese weddings involved the groom's family sending dowry cakes, or marry girl cakes, to the bride's family. These were large, lightly sweetened sponge cakes, often with a lotus seed paste filling. They were a symbol of the groom's sincerity and gratitude.

Nowadays, the tradition has evolved, and the groom's family will send a variety of pastries, baked or steamed, sweet or savoury, with different fillings and toppings. These include dragon and phoenix cakes, red and white twill pastries, walnut cookies, and century egg pastries. The number of pastries is also significant, with packages of six or eight being common, as these numbers are considered lucky in Chinese culture.

The pastries are often distributed to the bride's relatives and friends along with the wedding invitations, and they are also given as wedding favours to guests on the wedding day.

While the tradition of Western-style wedding cakes is becoming more popular in China, particularly among younger generations in bigger cities, traditional Chinese wedding pastries remain an integral part of the wedding ceremony, especially in smaller and more rural areas.

Dowry cakes are given to confirm a marriage will take place

Dowry cakes, also known as marry girl cakes, are a traditional part of Chinese weddings. They are given to friends, relatives, and guests as a way to confirm that the marriage will take place and to share the joy of the occasion. This custom is said to have originated during the late Eastern Han Dynasty when the warlord Liu Bei sent dowry cakes to the family of his bride-to-be, the widowed sister of Sun Quan, founder and first emperor of the Eastern Wu dynasty. Liu Bei's gesture was meant to show his sincerity and goodwill, and it has since become a beloved tradition in Chinese wedding culture.

The dowry cake is typically a lightly sweetened sponge cake that can vary in shape and appearance. It is considered large compared to most pastries and may have a base made of lotus seed paste. Over time, the tradition has evolved, and now it is customary for the groom's family to send dowry cakes and betrothal gifts to the bride's parents. This exchange symbolizes the groom's commitment and sincerity in intending to marry the bride.

The number of cakes sent is also significant in Chinese culture. Dowry cakes are often sent in pairs to represent the bride and groom or in packages of six or eight, as these numbers are considered auspicious and symbolic of wealth and smooth sailing in the marriage. The cakes are usually packaged in red boxes with golden lettering, as red symbolizes good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture. The boxes may also feature images of a phoenix and a dragon, representing the couple's harmonious relationship, or the double happiness symbol, which translates to joy and bliss.

While some modern Chinese couples, especially in bigger cities, have adopted Western-style wedding cakes, the tradition of dowry cakes remains prevalent, particularly in smaller and more rural areas. The practice of exchanging dowry cakes is a beautiful way for Chinese couples to honour their cultural heritage and share their happiness with loved ones.

The colour red is significant in Chinese wedding traditions

Chinese wedding traditions are steeped in centuries-old rituals, vibrant colours, and profound symbolism. One of the most prominent colours in Chinese wedding traditions is red, which carries a multitude of meanings and significances.

Red is considered a lucky colour in Chinese culture and is linked to love, success, fertility, happiness, prosperity, luck, honour, and loyalty. It is no surprise, then, that red features heavily in Chinese wedding customs. From the bride's attire to the wedding decorations, red is a dominant colour. The bride often wears a Qipao, a red silk dress, or a two-piece Qungua or Kwa, symbolising elegance and tradition. During the hair-combing ceremony, which symbolises the transition into adulthood, the bride and groom dress in red clothes and slippers. The wedding procession also involves the bride being escorted by her father to the wedding venue under a red umbrella, which is believed to shield her from evil spirits.

Red is also featured in the gifts exchanged during the wedding. The traditional Chinese bridal pastries, or dowry cakes, are packed in red boxes with golden lettering. These colours symbolise good fortune and wealth. The number of pastries is also significant, with packages of six or eight representing smoothness and wealth in marriage. The groom's family also presents betrothal gifts to the bride's family during the "Guo Da Li" ceremony, where the gifts are often adorned in red and gold, symbolising wealth and good fortune.

The significance of red in Chinese wedding traditions extends beyond the colour itself. The Double Happiness symbol, composed of two identical Chinese characters meaning joy, is often used in wedding decorations and invitations. This symbol, along with dragons, phoenixes, and mandarin ducks, further accentuates the happiness and prosperity wished for the newlyweds.

Chinese wedding cakes are given as gifts to the bride's family

Chinese wedding traditions are steeped in history and symbolism. The bride's family is presented with cakes, known as dowry cakes or marry girl cakes, from the groom's family. This custom is said to have originated in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, when the warlord Liu Bei sent betrothal gifts and dowry cakes to the family of his bride-to-be, Lady Sun, to show his sincerity.

Dowry cakes are large, lightly sweetened sponge cakes with a base of lotus seed paste. They are usually packed in red boxes with golden lettering, as red symbolises good fortune and wealth in Chinese culture. The boxes are often adorned with images of a dragon and a phoenix, representing the emperor and empress and symbolising blissful relations between husband and wife. Alternatively, they may feature the double happiness symbol, 囍 (双喜 shuāngxǐ), where 喜 xǐ represents joy and 双 shuāng means double.

The number of cakes sent to the bride's family is also significant. They are either sent in pairs to represent the betrothed couple, or in packs of six or eight. In Mandarin, the number six, 六 liù, sounds like 溜 liú, which means "to flow" and indicates a smooth-sailing marriage. The number eight, 八 bā, is similar to 发 fā, which is short for 发财 fācái, meaning "to become wealthy".

In addition to dowry cakes, the groom's family also presents other betrothal gifts such as tea, wine, tobacco, and significant items like "Dragon (male) and Phoenix (female) bridal cakes". The bride's family then distributes the dowry cakes to friends and relatives as a form of wedding announcement and invitation.

While Chinese wedding cake traditions are evolving, with younger generations in bigger cities adopting Western-style cakes, the ancient customs are still widely practised, especially in smaller, more rural areas.

Chinese wedding cakes are not served at the wedding banquet

Chinese wedding cakes, also known as dowry cakes or marry girl cakes, are not served at the wedding banquet. Instead, they are given as gifts to the bride's family during the pre-wedding ceremony called the Guo Da Li, which takes place a few weeks before the wedding. The cakes are considered a symbol of the groom's sincerity and promise to take care of the bride after they are married.

The tradition of giving dowry cakes is said to have originated from a story dating back to the era of the Three Kingdoms. In this story, Liu Bei was tricked into leaving his borrowed land, Jingzhou, by Sun Quan, who offered him his widowed sister as a wife. Knowing it was a trick, Liu Bei still attended the ceremony and sent cakes to Sun Quan as a goodwill gesture, sealing their alliance.

Over time, the tradition has evolved, and now it is customary for the groom's family to send betrothal gifts, including bridal pastries, to the bride's parents. These pastries are not typically served at the wedding banquet but are exchanged before the wedding as a symbol of the groom's intentions.

The bridal pastries come in various types, each with its own history and symbolism. One of the most famous is the wife cake or sweetheart cake, a flaky pastry filled with winter melon paste. Another popular pastry is the red twill cake, filled with red beans, symbolizing the couple's love and celebration. The white twill cake, filled with lotus seed paste, symbolizes fertility, while the yellow twill cake, filled with mung bean paste, represents the groom's success and the blessing of their union.

While Chinese wedding cakes are not served at the wedding banquet, they play a significant role in the wedding traditions, symbolizing the union of not just the couple but also their families.

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