Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-10
HOW THEY MARRY IN CHINA
customs Which Appear Very Ridieu.
lous In Our Eyes.

Inc marriage Of the upper classes IN
China is surrounded by a number a,
! very elaborate ceremonies tbouoh
those Of humber station content them
selves with more primitive rites
Among the classes supposed TO he hot
ter on a great feast is one of the mos,
! important items OF the days proceed
liss. Ihls, which answers to the we'd
ding breakfast, is spread on tables at
the east and west of the dining hall
But, curiously enough, neither bride
nor bridegroom is permitted to taste Of
the delicacies thereon displayed. In
stead, meal for the happy man" is
spread in the courtyard. Before the
ceremony he makes obeisance to his
/ father and the wedding guests, kneel-
ing down and knocking his head six
times against the ground. The father
hands him a goblet of wine and tells
him to send for his bride
The formula in the bidding never
alters. 1t is in the following words
Go, my son, and seek your wife and
behave in all things with prudence and
wisdom. The sedan chair, or palan-
quin, which is dispatched for the recep-
ton Of the bride, is invariably painted
red, and is often richly adorned with
paintings and carvings. profusion
Of gliding is always one of its most
characteristic features. A large pro-
cession, including a band of music. is
always sent as escort to the blushing
bride. Gay lanterns and banners,
torches, umbrellas and fans are always
carried in the procession not to men
ton various emblems appropriate TO
the occasion. Thus a tiny orange tree
well loaded with golden fruit, is taken
along as a symbol Of a large family.
A goose and gander are emblematical
of conjugal fidelity, while a dolphin
means worldly prosperity and a high
position. The color of all the paraphe-
MALTA is red-the hue of rejoicing. Red
fans, red lanterns, red umbrellas to-
gether with the red painted palanquin
and the red costumes of the attendants,
make a bright splash of color. And
with the musicians blowing and thump-
ing their hardest, gongs beating.
torches spluttering and flaring and
lanterns cleaning a Chinese wedding
procession appeals powerfully alike to
eye and ear.
1t is etiquette for everybody to make
way for the cortege, and China's penal
code provides severe punishment for
anybody neglecting to do so. Before
the bride sets forth on her journey TO
her new abode, whether she is hidden
by a few lines written on red paper
and presented by the friend of the
degroom-answering to the English
best man''-she does kow-tow to her
70 har nd Irir 10 OF
wine and. kneeling listens TO harangues
from her parents on the new state ollie
into which she is now entering, and her
duties therein. These orations, in the
best style of Chinese eloquence, occupy
some time. meanwhile the poor little
bride, on her knees listens with what
patience she may command. Ere STEP
ping into the palanquin she wells her
self in silk of the orthodox shade OF
red. then the return procession starts
Arrived at the house. a curious cere-
mony takes place, the bride being pre-
scented with a tray containing rice anu
berel nuts. She must PROSTATE hersell
at the feet of her future husband, %
denote her complete submission TO nis
will. Then the girl unveils. and for lhe
first time the bridegroom sees ms
brides face.
Ancestor worship and the alteration
of the heavens and the earth are essen
tial parts of n Chinese marriage cefe.
mony, though the formal adoratlon u
the ancestral tablets does not take
place till the third day after the weu-
ding The bride at the wedding teas'
must PROSTATE herself before h1r
To-, Iaxr -
wine. The mother-in-law in her turn
presents the bride with cup OF WIZ,
Three days after marriage a grahu
visit of ceremony is paid to the vic
parents Servants laden with presents
accompany the newly welded PAIR.