Chinese wedding rituals

In ancient China, a man could have as many concubines as possible after the first wife. It was possible that the youngest concubine would be a teenager while the husband could be an ancient old man. Poor families sold their young daughters to rich families just because they could get some money from the rich family and also get rid of a useless female in the family.

Since 1950, the Chinese government has promulgated a law which stated that one man can only get married with one woman. It offends the law for anyone who has more than one wife.

In the past, parents arranged marriages were very common. Usually young people would have their spouse decided by their parents. Sometimes young people could only have the first look of their spouse at their wedding. It was also common that sometimes an arranged marriage could be organized even before the child was born as long as parents from both families agreed.

In modern days, things have changed quite a lot. Free love prevails and lovers can choose to get married with whoever they love. Of course, in order to show their respect to their parents, formal agreement has still to be obtained prior to any proper marriage procedure.

Even more modern, matchmakers businesses are all thriving just because sometimes people find it a bit hard to find their true love.

Before getting married

Before getting married, young people have to pay a formal visit to each other’s parents. When visiting the girl’s parents, the boy has to bring with him the betrothal gifts in order to show sincerity. When the gifts are received, then both the boy and the girl are engaged. When the girl visits the boy’s parents, the parents have to prepare a formal gift for the future daughter-in-law.

In China, usually the newly wedded couple will move to live with the boy’s family. Sometimes it is not surprising to see that they will live with the girl’s family. However, in these modern days, young couples would prefer to live alone without the parents if they can afford to pay for a new flat or house.

One of the wedding procedure is that the bride has to prepare a dowry to be brought to the bridegroom’s family on the wedding day. A dowry is things bought by the bride’s family, which includes blackest, clothes, accessories, daily necessities and etc.

What comes next is to choose a good day to hold the wedding. It is very important in the Chinese culture. A wedding, being such an important day in a person’s life, has to be held on a day which symbolizes goodness. People will choose the best day based on the Chinese Lunar calendar, or on any festival days.

n ancient China, a man could have as many concubines as possible after the first wife. It was possible that the youngest concubine would be a teenager while the husband could be an ancient old man. Poor families sold their young daughters to rich families just because they could get some money from the rich family and also get rid of a useless female in the family.

Since 1950, the Chinese government has promulgated a law which stated that one man can only get married with one woman. It offends the law for anyone who has more than one wife.

In the past, parents arranged marriages were very common. Usually young people would have their spouse decided by their parents. Sometimes young people could only have the first look of their spouse at their wedding. It was also common that sometimes an arranged marriage could be organized even before the child was born as long as parents from both families agreed.

In modern days, things have changed quite a lot. Free love prevails and lovers can choose to get married with whoever they love. Of course, in order to show their respect to their parents, formal agreement has still to be obtained prior to any proper marriage procedure.

Even more modern, matchmakers businesses are all thriving just because sometimes people find it a bit hard to find their true love.

Before getting married

Before getting married, young people have to pay a formal visit to each other’s parents. When visiting the girl’s parents, the boy has to bring with him the betrothal gifts in order to show sincerity. When the gifts are received, then both the boy and the girl are engaged. When the girl visits the boy’s parents, the parents have to prepare a formal gift for the future daughter-in-law.

In China, usually the newly wedded couple will move to live with the boy’s family. Sometimes it is not surprising to see that they will live with the girl’s family. However, in these modern days, young couples would prefer to live alone without the parents if they can afford to pay for a new flat or house.

One of the wedding procedure is that the bride has to prepare a dowry to be brought to the bridegroom’s family on the wedding day. A dowry is things bought by the bride’s family, which includes blackest, clothes, accessories, daily necessities and etc.

What comes next is to choose a good day to hold the wedding. It is very important in the Chinese culture. A wedding, being such an important day in a person’s life, has to be held on a day which symbolizes goodness. People will choose the best day based on the Chinese Lunar calendar, or on any festival days.

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