THE PROPOSALThe process begins with an elaborated marriage proposal and acceptance.
A Chinese marriage that does not observe proper Chinese customs is invalid in the eyes of most Chinese.
The important parties in a proposal and betrothal were the parents rather than the bride and groom themselves.
--- Information gathering:
It is the investigation of the background of the bride and her family. The reputation and social status are important. The groom’s family needs are to be assured. The personality, character and behavior of the bride are above reproach.
The boy’s parents would send the go-between to present the gifts to the girl’s parents and to sound out their feelings about the match. If the proposal was well-received, the go-between would obtain the date and hour of the girl’s birth recorded on a formal document.
The groom‘s family would place this document on the ancestral altar for three days. If no inauspicious omens the information will be evaluated for an astrological expert to confirm that they would make a good match. If all both outcomes were favorable, the two families will exchange their family records/family tree.
--Negotiation:
When both families are satisfied, the parents will negotiate on the amount of dowry expected, the tables allocated for the wedding banquet and choice of a suitable date for the marriage. Negotiations can be done directly or through a middleman.
--Engagement:
After negotiations are ended, the engagement is announced. The bride and groom exchange rings and a dinner is held for close relatives.
--Wedding Dowry:
The dowry will be presented to the bride’s family according the agreement. The dowry is a symbolic compensation to the bride’s family for the loss of their daughter. The dowry must comply with the status and wealth of the groom’s family. A notification of the date of marriage and further wedding details follow the presentation of the dowry.
Citation:
No comments:
Post a Comment