Ten Fascinating Chinese Wedding Traditions and Their Meaning Explained

Posted on the 22 October 2024 by Paulsweddings

Have you ever wondered why Chinese weddings have such different and captivating traditions compared to Western countries? Have you ever been intrigued by those customs but were afraid to ask what they mean? Then you are at the right place, as in this article we are going to have a deep dive into the ten most fascinating Chinese wedding traditions. 

We will look closely into their cultural significance and explain the profound meaning behind each of them. Let’s delve into the most emblematic Chinese customs for marriage, including the bride wearing the iconic wedding qipao dress in a mesmerizing red color.

Table of Contents

Choosing an auspicious wedding date for good fortune

When planning a wedding, selecting the right date plays a very important role in Chinese culture. Many engaged couples prefer to consult a fortune teller or a Feng Shui master to choose the most auspicious date for their marriage. The Chinese Lunar calendar, astrology, and numerology are carefully studied to pick the date that ensures a long-lasting union and good fortune.

The cherished tradition of a formal proposal with symbolic gifts

“Guo Da Li” is a traditional Chinese ceremony where the groom makes an official proposal to the bride’s family. It shows respect for the bride’s relatives and signifies the seriousness of his intentions. The phrase “Guo Da Li” can be translated as “passing the big gift” or “presenting the betrothal gifts” in Mandarin. During this pre-wedding ritual, the groom presents the bridal family with various gifts that showcase how well his future wife will be taken care of during the marriage. Such presents often include money, golden jewelry, tea, oranges, and traditional cakes. Each gift has a symbolic meaning, for example, prosperity, growth, respect, and abundance.

Transition to adulthood through a hair-combing ceremony

The Chinese hair-combing ceremony is usually made for the brides and the grooms the night before or the morning of the wedding. This ancient ritual represents the transition to adulthood and the readiness for marriage as a new chapter in their lives. During it, one or both of the parents comb their hair four times while reciting an ancient Chinese blessing. Each stroke wishes them different auspicious things like a lifelong marriage or a happy family. At the end of the ceremony, the couple would eat a bowl of rice together celebrating their togetherness.

The bride wearing a red qipao dress for luck and happiness

The Chinese wedding dress is called qipao or cheongsam. It is famous for its emblematic high Mandarin collar and elegant neckline. Unlike Western bridal gowns done in white or ivory shades, wedding cheongsam dress is traditionally crafted in a vibrant red. This iconic color is one of the most important shades in Chinese culture thanks to its fortunate meaning. Magnificent red represents happiness, good luck, and joy and is believed to ward off evil spirits. The gorgeous qipao dress is usually adorned with sophisticated embroidery featuring auspicious symbols like phoenixes, dragons, and peonies, each representing different blessings, such as harmony, joyful marriage, and prosperity.

Modern brides enjoy incorporating contemporary elements into their wedding cheongsam to showcase their style. It can be for example a fashionable silhouette like the mermaid or an exquisite fabric like lace. This allows them to blend modernity and tradition while paying homage to their heritage and embodying the timeless elegance of the Chinese qipao.

Powerful symbolism of dragon and phoenix

The dragon and phoenix are emblematic creatures in Chinese culture, often representing the groom and bride. The dragon stands for such qualities as masculinity, strength, and power. Meanwhile, the phoenix represents grace, beauty, and femininity. Together, they embody the ideal balance between husband and wife, symbolizing a harmonious and prosperous marriage. These motifs frequently appear on wedding decorations, candles, the bride’s qipao, and even banquet dishes, infusing the celebration with wishes for a balanced and happy union.

Playful challenges with Chinese wedding door games

Chinese wedding door games create a playful and entertaining atmosphere at the festivities. During them, the groom must succeed in funny challenges organized by the bridesmaids. It is only after completing them and showing his determination and willingness to overcome obstacles that he can see his bride. The groom and his crew throughout various door games must perform funny stunts and contests to demonstrate his love.

Traditional tea ceremony to express gratitude to the families

The tea ceremony is one of the most beautiful and crucial traditions of Chinese weddings, as it symbolizes the two families coming together. It serves as a gesture of deep respect to the seniors and gratitude for your heritage. During the tea ceremony, the bride usually wears a wedding cheongsam in auspicious red and gold colors or a traditional two-piece Qun Kwa ensemble. The groom and the bride kneel before their elders and parents and serve them tea. This custom expresses their thankfulness for all the love and support they have received from their families. As they receive the tea they express their blessings for the couple and present them with red envelopes with money and gold jewelry. The tea ceremony signifies the merging of two families and the honoring of family ties, making it one of the most cherished wedding customs.

Offering red envelopes for the couple

During a Chinese wedding, the guests offer the couple red envelopes with money called hongbao. This narrow and long envelope is made in the traditional red color which symbolizes happiness and good luck. It is usually decorated with Chinese characters in gold that signify happiness and wealth. The money inside serves as a gift for the newlyweds to start their new life together. The amount inside is typically an even number, as odd numbers are considered unlucky.

The wedding banquet and its symbolic dishes

A Chinese wedding banquet showcases the newlyweds’ generosity and the joy of sharing the special day with the guests. It usually consists of 10 symbolic dishes each of which is believed to bring good luck and happiness to the couple. For example, a traditional soup with rare seafood represents abundance and prosperity. A course serving a bird like a chicken or duck symbolizes unity and peace. During the grand feast noodles and rice can also be offered to bless the couple with a long life and a happy marriage. The Chinese banquet is way more than just a shared meal, it is a celebration of the newlyweds with each cultural dish having a deep auspicious meaning. 

Driving away evil spirits by lighting firecrackers

Last but not least, it is impossible to imagine a Chinese wedding without numerous firecrackers. It is an essential and fun part of the celebration which holds a symbolic meaning. It is believed to ward off evil spirits and negative energy by loud noises. Lightning the firecrackers creates a lively atmosphere and celebrates the couple’s happiness and marriage.