To make sure to have good wishes for the newlyweds to have a happy marriage, there are many rituals and customs that need to be followed. At the same time, there are several prohibitions as well. Here we will list out the list of prohibitions in Chinese weddings for you to take note of.
Contents
1. Marriage Room
- Do not put scissors and other sharp objects in the marriage room because it would bring the meaning of quarrel.
- Do not put the climbing plants in the marriage room, as it has the meaning of derailment.
- It is not suitable to put wine glasses in the wedding room, which sound like ‘long sorrow’ in Chinese.
- The marriage bed should be placed alongside with the wall and not opposite to the sharp corners such as the corners of the table.
- The marriage bed should not face the bathroom and mirror.
2. Before the wedding day
- On the day of the engagement, do not use the fan or hold an umbrella, as it means breaking up.
- All dowry gifts and wedding gifts should be in even numbers, implying that good things come in pairs.
- The groom should not sleep alone on the marriage bed before the wedding.
3. After the wedding day
- Do not travel far after 3 days of marriage. If you have to, you can put the clothes of both of you on the marriage bed.
- When returning to the bride’s home after the wedding (回门), the bride and groom must go together, and must bring the gift in two copies.
- The way back to the bride’s home must be the same as picking up the bride on wedding day.
- Do not stay the night at the bride’s home on the day of returning home. It is better to go back before sunset. If you must stay at the bride’s home, both of you should sleep in a separate room.
- Within four months after marriage, it is inadvisable to spend the night outside。 Additionally, it is best not to participate in other weddings and funerals.
4. The Attire on Wedding Day
- All the bride’s dresses should not have pockets, so as not to take away the wealth of the mother’s family.
- All the clothes, jewellery and shoes of the newlyweds should be brand new.
- The wedding dress and Chinese-style gown can only be worn once, and cannot be worn again when returning to the bride’s house after the wedding.
- Do not choose black, white, grey and blue colour dress when returning to the bride’s home after the wedding.
5. During the Escort (接亲) on the Wedding Day
- The pregnant women and those wearing filial piety should not participate in picking up the bride on the wedding day.
- When picking up and sending off the bride, the aunts and sisters-in-law should not participate. This is because they sound like ‘solitary, suspicious, and sweeping’ in Chinese which bring bad meaning.
- When the bride enters the groom’s house, avoid stepping on the threshold, instead, the bride should step over it.
6. Wedding Car on the Wedding Day
- The number of wedding cars that are going to pick up the bride should be in even numbers.
- The wedding car cannot be empty, each car must be filled with people, excluding the driver.
- Do not turn back when going to the groom’s house after picking up the bride.
- Try to take a flat and spacious road, which means smooth and happy.
- Wedding car routes should try to avoid courts, procuratorates, police stations, hospitals, and funeral parlours.
