TRADITIONAL CHINESE WEDDING

Traditional Chinese wedding customs are considered as the

foundation of rites in traditional Chinese culture. A wedding is usually a
grand occasion with overly-elaborate formalities. There are eight major
procedures of a wedding, including proposal making, birthday matching,
marriage divination, betrothal gifts presenting, wedding date fixing, dowry
urging, welcoming the bride to the wedding and performing the formal
wedding ceremony.
The procedure of birthday matching was the process in which the
boy's family asked the matchmaker to go to the girl's family to enquire
about her name and date of birth. Then, the boy's parents would send the
girl's and their son's names and birthdates to a sorcerer or fortune teller
for divining to see if the marriage between the two would be appropriate.
The foretelling of the luck of the marriage was what was called "marriage
divination".
If according to Chinese astrology the couple was compatible and both
families agreed to the marriage, the boy's family would then send
betrothal gifts to the girl's family. The betrothal gifts mainly included
clothes, jewelries, gold, silver and cash etc. In addition, a gilded silver coin
bearing the word "qiu" (meaning "proposal") was among the gifts. The
girl's family would send back another coin bearing the word "yun"
(meaning "agreed") among their gifts presented in return. Thus, the
marriage was confirmed.
Then, the two families would make arrangements for the wedding.
When everything was ready, the boy's family would invite a fortune teller
to choose a wedding date believed to bring the most luck to the couple
based on the Chinese calendar mythology. After the date was fixed, the
boy's family would send someone to inform the girl's family of it, which
was part of the procedure of fixing the wedding date.
During the period between the wedding date settlement and welcoming
the bride, the boy's family would customarily urge the girl's family to send
her dowry in for bridal chamber decoration, otherwise the wedding could
not be held on schedule. After being urged, the girl's family would begin to
prepare the dowry, which would be sent to the boy's family on a chosen
date. The amount and quality of the dowry would determine the girl's
future status in her husband's family.
Welcoming the bride to the wedding and performing the formal
wedding ceremony would be conducted on the same day, which was the
climax of the whole wedding procedures. On the wedding day, the
bridegroom's family would welcome the bride to the wedding in a bridal
sedan accompanied by a wedding procession. With firecrackers exploding
and band playing, the precession was a noisy and joyous show. As soon as
the bride arrived at the groom's home, the couple would perform formal
bows. The rituals were also called "bowing to Heaven and Earth", which
were conducted to gain approval of the marriage from gods, divinities,
ancestors as well as from parents, older generations, relatives and
neighbors in the mortal world.
After the bowing rituals, the couple would enter the bridal chamber,
followed by rituals like sitting on the bed, throwing happiness-embodying

nuts and drinking the nuptial cup etc. After that, relatives and friends to
the wedding would be treated to a wedding feast. Then, wedding guests,
old and young, would play bridal chamber pranks and wouldn't leave till
the dead of night. Thus, the wedding ceremony was finished.
Traditional Chinese wedding customs have been around for thousands of
years. They may vary from place to place and time to time, but have been
holding an important position in the lives of Chinese people, causing a farreaching impact on the way the Chinese lead their lives.
Korean Wedding
Before the wedding takes place, a bride must participate in a traditional
introduction ceremony where she is accepted into the grooms family.
Ducks and geese are animals that are known to mate for life and so in the
olden days, the groom would give his mother in law a live goose to represent his
fidelity, but now the live goose has been replaced by a wooden one. In Korean
culture these animals are the perfect symbols of fidelity and are incorporated into
weddings.
Cranes also represent a long life and so they are usually incorporated into the
brides sash. The bride wears two dresses which are said to be from the noble class,
a light green wonsam and an elaborate hwarrot or flower robe. Underneath, she
wears a traditional robe. On her head, she wears a black gem-studded cap and she
wears white socks with embroidered shoes. Her make-up is simple with three red
nickel-sized circles to ward off evil spirits. The groom wears the dress of nobility as
well, and it is made of dark green damask with embroidered auspicious symbols in
gold and a tall black cap headdress made of silk.
The wedding ceremony takes place in front of a table and one important part
is the sharing of a special white wine (jung jong) which is poured from cups made
from two halves of a gourd made by the brides mom. The bride and groom sip from
their own cups, mix the wine, and then pour it out and sip again as a wedding vow.
Another ceremony which is only attended by close family members is when
the new wife offers the in-laws dried dates and jujubes that represent children. They
offer the bride tea and at the end of the ceremony they toss dates and chestnuts at
her while she attempts to catch them with her skirt.
Finally, there is a noodle banquet called kook soo sang where Korean sake is
taken in shots, while wheat noodle soup is eaten to wish the couple a long, happy
life.

Japanese Wedding
The Japanese ritual of "san-san-kudo", the three by three exchange is rich
with meaning. It is performed by the bride and groom and both sets of parents; each
person takes 3 sips of sake from each of 3 cups. The first 3 represent three couples,
the bride and groom, and their parents. The second 3 represent three human flaws:
hatred, passion, and ignorance. "Ku", or 9 is a lucky number in Japanese culture.
And "do" means deliverance from the three flaws.
Another highlight of this ceremony is a rosary with 21 beads that represent the
couple, their families and the Buddha all joined on one string to symbolize the union
of the families. Part of the ceremony involves honoring the parents with offers of
flowers, a toast, or a letter expressing their love and gratitude.
The crane is a symbol of longevity and prosperity and so 1,001 gold origami
cranes are folded to bring luck, good fortune, longevity, fidelity, and peace to the
marriage.
The bride traditionally wears two outfits: the shiro, which is a white kimono
worn for the ceremony and the uchikake kimono which is a patterned brocade worn
at the reception. The hair is worn in a bun with colorful kanzashi accessories and a
white wedding hook called the tsuno kakushi is worn to hide the two front golden
tsuno horns to symbolize obedience. The bride also carries a tiny purse (hakoseko),
a small encased sword (kaiken), and a fan that is worn in the obi belt that represents
happiness and a happy future.
Plenty of courses are served, but never in a multiple of four because the
number four sounds like the word for death. Additionally, the different foods served
all have special meanings, for example lobster might be served because red is a
lucky color or clams served with both shells symbolize the couples union.

American Wedding
"I do." To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life.
Especially if you say them at your own wedding. Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now
Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.
It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his sweetheart for
permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise
her by "popping the question" in a romantic way.
American Culture
Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married. The man
usually gives his fiancee a diamond ring as a symbol of their engagement. They may be engaged for
weeks, months or even years. As the big day approaches, bridal showers and bachelor's parties
provide many useful gifts. Today many couples also receive counseling during engagement. This
Western Culture prepares them for the challenges of married life.
At last it's time for the wedding. Although most weddings follow long-held traditions, there's
still room for American individualism. For example, the usual place for a wedding is in a church. But
some people get married outdoors in a scenic spot. A few even have the ceremony while skydiving or
riding on horseback! The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They
choose their own style of American Culture colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But
some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She
traditionally wears "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue." The
groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants,
including the best man and the maid of honor.

As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the
audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride's attendants, followed by the beautiful bride.
Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other "for
better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health." But sometimes the couple has
composed their own vows. They give Western Culture each other a gold ring to symbolize their
marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: "I now pronounce you man
and wife. You may kiss your bride!" Shenzhen
At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding
cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and other treats. Later the
bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one American
Culture who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. During the reception, playful friends
"decorate" the couple's car with tissue paper, tin cans and a "Just Married" sign. When the reception
is over, the newlyweds run to their "decorated" car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a
one- to two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.
Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one's life. Marriage is one of the most
Western Culture basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it's no surprise to find many traditions
about getting married . . . even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is
uniquely their own.