Chinese Wedding Traditions
For the Chinese people, the purpose of marriage is to continue the ancestral line and to create alliances between two families.
In the ancient days, letters played a vital role in the betrothal and wedding process. Three letters being sent during those times. First is the request letter which serves as a confirmation of the formal arrangement of marriage. This is sent by the groom's family to the bride's family along with gifts. The second letter is called the gift letter. It serves as a gift record that describes the value of each gift. The third one is the Wedding letter which is given to the bride's family on the wedding day itself.
A traditional Chinese couple is very picky when it comes to choosing the date for the wedding - it should be a lucky one. Most Chinese families choose a wedding date which is according to the lunar calendar. Aside from that, they also make sure that the moon and stars are properly aligned on the chosen date. It is also customary that the couple should marry on the half-hour rather than at the top hour of their wedding day. In this way, the hands of the clock are moving up instead of down. This is associated with the belief of Chinese wedding traditions that the couple could begin their lives on an upswing if that custom is followed.
In traditional Chinese families, the parents of the couple usually provide a new bed complete with pillow cases, comforters, pillows and sheets. A night before the wedding, the groom is required to sleep on the bed and a young nephew will have to jump up and down the bed to give luck to the couple. It is said that this practice gives hope on the fertility of the couple and will make them produce an heir soon.
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