Lyla Dejesus
In Chinese culture, brides traditionally wear red dresses to celebrate the joy and happiness of their marriage. The colour red is synonymous with happiness, fortune, success, honour, and love in Chinese culture. Brides in Southern China wear a two-piece red dress called a Long Feng Gua, adorned with a dragon and phoenix, symbolising the groom and bride, respectively. Brides may also wear a red silk veil, which they remove to mark the start of a life of cherishing each other.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Red |
| Culture | Asian, Chinese |
| Dress Types | Qipao, Long Feng Gua, Qun Kwa, Cheongsam, Chinese Phoenix Coronet |
| Symbolism | Honour, success, loyalty, fertility, love, happiness, fortune, celebration, joy, luck |
| Other | Worn during Lunar New Year, brides may wear a red veil, red shoes |
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What You'll Learn
- Red is a sacred colour in Chinese culture
- The colour is believed to drive away evil spirits
- Red symbolises happiness, fortune, success, honour, fertility and love
- Brides in Southern China wear a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and phoenix
- Red is a popular colour during the Lunar New Year period
Red is a sacred colour in Chinese culture
Red is the traditional colour used during Chinese New Year and other celebrations, including weddings. For centuries, red has been China's colour of power, celebration, fertility, prosperity, and the repelling of evil. It has been chosen for the robes of high officials, traditional wedding dresses, babies' clothing, and envelopes for gifts of money. The red colour of the packet symbolises good luck.
In Chinese weddings, the bride wears a red dress such as a Qun Kwa, a Long Feng Gua, or a cheongsam, also known as a Qipao. These dresses often feature elaborate gold or silver designs. The colour represents joy, happiness, honour, success, loyalty, fertility, and love. It is believed to ward off evil spirits on the big day.
Red is also used in other aspects of Chinese weddings, such as red silk veils and red or pink bridal shoes. The colour pink, a mixture of red and white, represents love, romance, and innocence, making it a popular choice for spring or summer weddings.
In addition to its cultural significance, "Chinese red" is also recognised by Pantone, the standardised colour-matching system. "Chinese red" is described as a vivid orangey-red, often referred to as vermillion. This colour can include a range of warm hues, from bright orange-red to duller bluish-red.
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The colour is believed to drive away evil spirits
The colour red is a traditional choice for wedding dresses in Chinese culture. Brides wear red to pay homage to their heritage and traditions. The colour is often associated with happiness, fortune, success, honour, fertility, and love.
In Chinese culture, red is believed to drive away evil spirits. It is also the Chinese sacred colour. The belief is that wearing red on the wedding day brings good luck and fortune to the couple. This is why, in addition to the bridal dress, other wedding attire and accessories are also red. For instance, brides can wear a red silk veil and red or pink-shaded bridal shoes.
The tradition of wearing red at weddings in China dates back over 650 years to the Ming Dynasty. Brides in Southern China wear a two-piece red dress called the Long Feng Gua, adorned with a dragon and phoenix, symbolising the groom and bride, respectively. Brides can also opt for a more ornamental headdress, the Chinese Phoenix Coronet, which is considered a highly honourable ornament.
The colour red is also associated with the Lunar New Year, a period of celebration and joy. Red envelopes are often given out during this time and are sometimes exchanged at weddings as well. Serving foods customary to the Lunar New Year, such as dumplings, noodles, and sticky rice cakes, is another way to honour this tradition during wedding festivities.
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Red symbolises happiness, fortune, success, honour, fertility and love
In Chinese culture, brides traditionally wear a red dress to celebrate the joy and happiness of their marriage. Red symbolises happiness, fortune, success, honour, fertility and love. It has been a wedding tradition since the Ming Dynasty over 650 years ago.
Red is a lucky colour in Chinese culture, and it is widely used in festivals and special events such as weddings. It is also the Chinese sacred colour, believed to drive away evil spirits. The colour is often associated with anger or danger in Western culture, but in China, it represents honour, success, loyalty, fertility and love. Brides may wear a Long Feng Gua, a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and phoenix, or a Qipao, also known as a Cheongsam, a one-piece red dress with an elaborate gold or silver design.
The wedding attire doesn't stop at the dress: Chinese brides can also wear a red silk veil and red shoes. Red envelopes are often given out during the Lunar New Year, and wedding couples can choose to receive and gift them as wedding favours.
The colour pink is a mixture of red and white, and so it represents love, romance, and innocence. It also embodies femininity and is a popular choice for modern Chinese brides who want to incorporate the colour red into their wedding dress without compromising style.
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Brides in Southern China wear a two-piece red dress adorned with a dragon and phoenix
In Southern China, brides traditionally wear a two-piece red dress called a Long Feng Gua, or Qun Kwa, adorned with a dragon and phoenix. The dragon and phoenix symbolise the groom and bride, respectively, and more broadly, male and female harmony. The dress consists of a jacket ("kwa") and a long skirt ("qun"), and is typically made with red gold thread, symbolising wealth and fertility.
The colour red is chosen because, in Chinese culture, it is a sacred colour that signifies honour, success, loyalty, fertility and love. It is also believed to ward off evil spirits. In contrast, black and white, which are considered classic wedding colours in the West, are associated with mourning and death in China.
The bride's outfit is complemented by gold jewellery and accessories, often featuring phoenix motifs. A red silk veil, or "honggaitou", may also be worn, symbolising purity, modesty and good luck. When the groom removes the veil, it is a vow to cherish each other for life. Another accessory is the Chinese Phoenix Coronet, a headdress originating from the Ming Dynasty, that is valued for its exquisite craftsmanship.
The Qun Kwa is one variation of the traditional Chinese wedding dress, which is collectively referred to as "Qipao" or "Cheongsam". The former is the Mandarin term, while the latter is the Cantonese term, which was used in Southern China. Today, the terms are used interchangeably to refer to the same style of dress—a traditional form-fitting sheath with a Mandarin collar.
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Red is a popular colour during the Lunar New Year period
During the Lunar New Year, it is customary to give gifts of money in red envelopes, known as hóngbāo (紅包), to friends and family. The colour of the envelope is significant, with red symbolising good wishes and luck for the new year ahead. The amount of money contained in the envelope usually ends with an even digit as odd-numbered gifts of money are associated with funerals in Chinese culture.
The tradition of giving red envelopes has spread beyond China and can now be found in other parts of Asia, including Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and among the Chinese diaspora worldwide. In some cases, digital red envelopes are now exchanged instead of physical ones. While red envelopes are most commonly associated with the Lunar New Year, they are also given on other occasions, such as weddings, births, and birthdays.
In addition to red envelopes, people may also wear red during the Lunar New Year period to bring good luck and celebrate. This includes wearing red clothing and accessories, such as the traditional red dresses worn by brides in some Chinese weddings. Red is considered the Chinese sacred colour and is believed to bring honour, success, loyalty, fertility, and love.
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