Cantonese wedding
Encyclopedia
Most Southern Chinese weddings follow the main Chinese wedding traditions, although some rituals are unique to southern parts of China (华南), particularly Guangdong
, Guangxi
, Fujian
, Taiwan
and Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
is often subject to the groom's family economic status. Most brides' families try to avoid giving the impression of "selling the daughter" by not demanding a high bride price. In many southern wedding traditions, the bride price can be in the form of gold jewelry, fine fabric or money.
Sometimes, a roast pig is given as part of the price for the bride. In the old days it is supposed to imply that the bride is indeed a virgin. However the baby roast pig is sometimes included in the wedding reception package provided by the caterer.
, or lai see
' onMouseout='HidePop("5820")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
: lei6 si6), to the new couple. The lai see symbolises luck and prosperity to the new family. It is also common to give gold jewelry as presents. Wedding presents to the couple are usually expected from the elders ' onMouseout='HidePop("55192")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
: zoeng2 bui3), family members who are older or of higher generation rank than the newlyweds.
or gold jewellery) to the couple. This is repeated with the other elders in the order of descending generation rank.
Family members of the same rank as the couple will stand while the couple stands while serving them tea. Again, gifts are offered to the couple.
Family members who are younger or of lower rank ' onMouseout='HidePop("53935")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
: hau6 bui3) than the couple will take turns to serve tea to the couple. By this time the couple will have been seated. In return, the couple will usually offer each of them a small present (usually lai see
).
The tea ceremony is also an opportunity for the bride and groom to express gratitude towards their parents for looking after them until the wedding day. In Chinese families, one is considered an adult and independent when one gets married. This also serves as the event during which the family meets the new spouse and welcomes him or her to the family.
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Chinese communities in Southeast Asia.
Bride price
The bride priceBride price
Bride price, also known as bride wealth, is an amount of money or property or wealth paid by the groom or his family to the parents of a woman upon the marriage of their daughter to the groom...
is often subject to the groom's family economic status. Most brides' families try to avoid giving the impression of "selling the daughter" by not demanding a high bride price. In many southern wedding traditions, the bride price can be in the form of gold jewelry, fine fabric or money.
Sometimes, a roast pig is given as part of the price for the bride. In the old days it is supposed to imply that the bride is indeed a virgin. However the baby roast pig is sometimes included in the wedding reception package provided by the caterer.
Exchange of gifts
Monetary presents are usually offered in the form of a red envelopeRed envelope
In Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.-Usage:Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as...
, or lai see
Red envelope
In Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.-Usage:Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as...
' onMouseout='HidePop("5820")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
Jyutping
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong in 1993. Its formal name is The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong Cantonese Romanization Scheme...
: lei6 si6), to the new couple. The lai see symbolises luck and prosperity to the new family. It is also common to give gold jewelry as presents. Wedding presents to the couple are usually expected from the elders ' onMouseout='HidePop("55192")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
Jyutping
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong in 1993. Its formal name is The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong Cantonese Romanization Scheme...
: zoeng2 bui3), family members who are older or of higher generation rank than the newlyweds.
Tea ceremony
The elders sit while the couple serves tea to each one, beginning with the head of the family. The elder in return will offer a small present (usually lai seeRed envelope
In Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.-Usage:Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as...
or gold jewellery) to the couple. This is repeated with the other elders in the order of descending generation rank.
Family members of the same rank as the couple will stand while the couple stands while serving them tea. Again, gifts are offered to the couple.
Family members who are younger or of lower rank ' onMouseout='HidePop("53935")' href="/topics/Jyutping">Jyutping
Jyutping
Jyutping is a romanization system for Cantonese developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong in 1993. Its formal name is The Linguistic Society of Hong Kong Cantonese Romanization Scheme...
: hau6 bui3) than the couple will take turns to serve tea to the couple. By this time the couple will have been seated. In return, the couple will usually offer each of them a small present (usually lai see
Red envelope
In Chinese and other Asian societies, a red envelope or red packet is a monetary gift which is given during holidays or special occasions.-Usage:Red envelopes are mainly presented at social and family gatherings such as...
).
The tea ceremony is also an opportunity for the bride and groom to express gratitude towards their parents for looking after them until the wedding day. In Chinese families, one is considered an adult and independent when one gets married. This also serves as the event during which the family meets the new spouse and welcomes him or her to the family.