Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-31
AIefan0rla 6azette
MONDAY EVENING, deer. 81.
A Chinese Marriage.

The marriage ceremony 10 Cbina differs 10
many respects from that OF our oWn and other
countries. Love before marriage was never
| the fashion with the Chinese A Chioamau, ii
| be moves in polite circles. has never seen the
| lady to whom he is betrothed aud has not the
| remotest idea of what she is like, whether she
will at all resemble the creature bis fancy had
painted, or whether the first sight OF her 10.
yelled face on the day Of marriage will Gas; :
shadow over the prospect of his future. liz
does not understand love; it is 20 part OF tho
marriage contract. He was probably betrotbed
by his parents before his infant eyes opened up
on the charms of his country. His intended
wife has been reared for him in the strict So
cluson OF her paternal home.
The parents of marriageabe children usually
engage professional person, or 20 betweeo, to
negotiate an alliance for their son or daughter.
Suitable presents are exchanged, and an asrol
oger is called 10 to fix lucky day for the cere
the horoscope of the contracting parties and to
ascertain whether tho combined ages of bride
and bridegroom and the exact time Of birth will
create any bad influence if the two are united
on given day.
Should lady who has been bsthrothed IN
the customary manner by her parents die be.
fore marriage the bereaved youth Is at liberty
to make another engagement; but should he
die before marriage, the young lady must 30
into weeds for the time of her natural life; and
should she during her widoWhood be held iD
esteem by her neighbors for perfect chastity.
the Imperial Government will ercc. stone
arch over her grave. There are many who,
when 10 this situation, prefer to commit sui.
eide rather than faco the ills Of splinter or
widows life.
1t is usual during the marriage waek, to en-.
gage procession of coolies to parade tho
streets with the articles of household furniture;
the silks and Jewels Of the pew couple. On the
day of marriage the bride is 10 futter as sho
is being dressed aud painted by her temal le re
latives and attendants. The head dress, huog
with glitteriog sprays of pearls, IS poised on the
head, the last touch is given to the Uniform
folds of her red silk robe, the gorgeous Rilded
chair waits at the door, she is gently raised 10 her
brother arms and held over fire Of charcoalto
dspel any lurking deviltry that may be about
her. She then carried to her chair. followed by
chorus of weeping females. four OF whom
are the bridesmaids, who are old married women,
dressed in black and red scsrfs. Then. amid the
deafe1ing din Of frecracker5, the shrll tones OF
native flutes and boom gongs. she is borne OH 10
tho homo of the bridegroom. 1T the door OF Whlch
she is met by an old woman, the mo!her OF MAZE
children. It it then that of the most tedious
of earthly ceremonies begins, whcrein the spirits
of ancestors have to be worsEiped. the parents
have to be worshiped, and the marriage contract
read. Then they drink the sacred wine:cup.
when two wine cups are united with red silk
thread and the contents drunk by the young
couple before the assembled guests. The bride
and bridegroom are usually seated during this
part cf the ceremony.
When the ceremony is over the bride takes CD
her outer robe, and prepares to submit hersefto
the varied (and what wo consider extremely
rude) remarks of the gentlemen present. who
talk freely of the form of her hands feet. head,
nose, mouth, eyes etc., A feast follows, and the
their honeymoon. The lady retires to and keeps
the strict seclusion of her new home, while the
bridegroom joins IN the feast, which is kept up
to q late hour -Erchan0e