Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-12-25
QUEER CUSTOMS
That Attend the Ceremony Of Marriage in
China.

The marriage of the upper classes in
China is surrounded by number OF
very elaborate ceremonies. though
those of humber station content them
selves with more primitive rites.
Among the classes supposed to be
better off "a great feast is one of the
most important items of the days pro-
ceedlngs. This, which answers to the
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 goblet of wine, and tells
him to send for his bride.
The formula in the bidding never al
ters. 1t is in the following words
go, my son. and seek your wife, and
behave in all things with prudence and
wisdom" The sedan, or palanquin,
which is despatched for the reception of
the bride, is invariably painted red.
and is often richly adorned with paint
ings and carvings. A profusfon of
gliding is always one of it's most char
acteristic features. A large procession,
including a band Of music. is always
sent to escort the blushing bride. Gay
lanterns and banners, torches, umbrel-
las and fans are always carried in the
procession, not to mention various en-
blems appropriate to the occasion
Thus a tiny orange tree, well loaded |
with golden fruit, is taken along as |
symbol OF a large family. A goose and |
a gander are emblematfcal of conjugal |
felicity, while dolphin means world
ly prosperity and high position The
color of all the paraphernalia is red
the hue of rejoicing. Red fans. red
lanterns, red umbrellas. together with
red painted palanquin and the red cos
tunes Of the attendants, make bright
splash of color. And with the musi-
clans blowing and thumDing their
hardest, gongs beating, torches splut-
ering and flaring and lanterns gleam-
ng, a Chinese wedding procession ap.
1eals powerfully to the eye and ear
like.
1t is etiquette for everybody to make
way for the cortege, and Chinas penal
ode provides a severe punishment for
nybody neglecting to do so.
Before the bride sets forth on her
to her new abode whittier she
5 bidden by few lines written on red
aper and presented by friend of the s
to the English
best man"-she does kow-kow to her
ither and mother. drinks a last cup t
wine, and, kneeling, listens to 'har- c
lngues from her parents on the new
ate of life into which she Is now en-
,ring and her duties therein. These
-ations, in the best style of Chinese a
oquence, occupy some time; mean [
hile the poor little bride, on her c
lees, listens with what patience she S
ay command. Ere stepping into the G
llanquin she wells herself in silk of \
e orthodox shade of red, then the 9
ocession starts. c
ony takes place, the bride being pre- c
nted with a tray containing rice and
tel nuts. She must prostrate her
If at the feet of her future husband.
denote her complete submission to
S will. Then the girl unveils. and b
r the first time the bridegroom sees
S brides face. n
Ancestor worship and the alteration lt
the heavens and the earth are essen Il
u parts of a Chinese marriage cere- a
ony, though the formal alteration of tl
g ancestral tablets does not take h
ace till the third day after the we'd r
ng. The bride at the wedding feast a
uSt PROSTATE herself before her par Il
Its-in-law to whom she gives wine, Il
he mother-in-law in her turn pre- s
nts the bride with a cup of wine,
lree days after marriage a grand Il
sit of ceremony is paid to the wife's
lrents.