Shoes are usually the last thing a bride and groom think about when planning their wedding, but shoe etiquette has long played an important role in Chinese weddings. The Chinese word for ‘shoe’, xie, sounds similar to the word for ‘harmony’, and so they were considered an important symbol for weddings. In China, it is [...]
Confucianism is one of the cornerstones of Chinese culture. Centered on the teachings of Confucius, or Master Kong, the philosophy came into being several thousand years ago and continues to be an important part of the Chinese system of values. Partly a philosophy and partly a religion, Confucianism is essentially a system of morality, and [...]
Traditionally, Chinese wedding celebrations lasted for three days, which included a number of customs and rites. Today, however, modern couples tend to pack all of the customs into just one day if they are doing a traditional Chinese wedding. One such custom is the bride’s home visit. This is the first visit that the bride [...]
Chinese weddings are very traditional events, and they have a long history of customs going all the way back to the earliest dynasties. Historically, Chinese marriages were arranged by the parents of the couple, for the purposes of political and social gain, moreso than romantic love, and so many of the customs surrounding Chinese weddings [...]
A traditional Chinese wedding has several very memorable symbols and items which make it unique. If you’ve ever attended a Chinese wedding yourself, you will have noticed two things about the décor: a proliferation of the color red, and the ubiquity of the double happiness (囍) symbol. The color red is considered lucky in China [...]
The average Chinese wedding reception is very different from those held in the West. Characterized by a series of risqué games, a lavish banquet, and plenty of baijiu (strong rice liquor), the Chinese way of celebrating recent nuptials is colourful, boisterous, and above all, fun. The bride and groom traditionally marry in a registry office [...]
In Chinese culture, the practise of giving gifts at weddings isn’t reserved for the guests to the couple, as is mostly the case in Western nuptials. Since the bride is considered to be a gift from her family to the groom’s in China, it is only the husband’s family who give presents to the wife’s. [...]
China is a nation of romantics. Chinese people adore love stories and have communally passed down many ancient tales of romance and love through the generations. Though there are literally hundreds of love stories in Chinese culture, there are several that are remembered most often and considered beloved tales. Among the most famous of China’s [...]
Animal symbolism has a long history in Chinese culture. The famed zodiac animals are one such example of creatures representing notable characteristics and themes. However, this is not the only instance of Chinese animal symbolism; there are several creatures, both real and mythical, that represent romantic themes and ideas related to love. Mandarin ducks are [...]
Candy plays several small but essential roles in any traditional Chinese wedding. Typically, candy is exchanged between the families as a traditional symbol of happiness and fruitful offspring. Wedding candy is also often handed out or displayed at the reception feast, or offered as a wedding favor to the guests. The most traditional type of [...]