Sunday, November 26, 2006

Chinese traditional custom



Just collected all the above with regards to the chinese traditional custom. It consists of:


A detailed timetable of when to tailor new pjamas, 安床 (change new bedsheet), 过大礼 (Groom's side to deliver presents to the Bride's family), prayers, Bride to transfer her belongings and presents from her parents 嫁妆 to the Groom's house and etc. Ops! But mine is all in Ben's house already .... haha!

过大礼 (Sorry but I don't know what is this called in English) is quite a big thing and a must in traditional chinese wedding. It's usually carried out 15-20 days before the wedding day. The Groom's parents will prepare all the necessary presents including 龙凤烛 (candle), 嫁女饼(biscuits), 请帖 (wedding invitation card), 礼酒(wine), chicken, red cloth and 聘金 (ang pow) to be given to the Bride's family. These are the basic necessity and both parents can discuss if they want any extra presents. Also, the Groom's parents are not suppose to be present during this ceremony. The Bride's parents should also return the presents 回礼 given and not keeping everything.

They also provide stickers to be stuck onto the car when the Groom collects the Bride on the wedding day. There're 2 stacks of angpow cover, which we're suppose to give out to e.g. the person who does the prayers, tailor for our pjamas, person who combs over hair (上头), person who introduces both of us, person who opens the car door for the Groom and etc. Many of these are not applicable in this modern society anymore esp the 'Introducer', I think it's called 媒人婆 in the olden days. A person who does match making when one family decided to wed their kids.

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