Hong Kong Wedding Traditions & Ceremonies
A researched guide to 10 traditional wedding ceremonies from 2 cultural traditions in Hong Kong.
Cantonese/Traditional Chinese
Pre-wedding
Guo Da Li
过大礼The groom presents gifts to the bride's family as a symbol of sincerity, with the bride's family returning a portion.
Key elements
- Bridal cakes, traditional Chinese sweetmeats, jewellery, gold, money, property.
Sheung Tau (Hair Combing)(Sheung Tau)
上頭A hair-combing ritual performed by a 'lucky' elder for the bride and groom, symbolizing transition into married life.
Key elements
- Hair comb, symbolism of harmony, prosperity, longevity.
Wedding day
Door Games
玩新郎Playful challenges for the groom and groomsmen to gain entry to the bride's home, testing the groom's love and devotion.
Key elements
- Sweet, sour, bitter, spicy foods
- red packet bargaining.
Post-wedding
Tea Ceremony(Ging Chaa)
敬茶The couple serves tea to elder relatives as a gesture of gratitude and respect, receiving blessings and gifts in return.
Key elements
- Traditional Cheongsam/Tang suits, tea, gold as gifts.
Confucianism/Traditional Chinese
Pre-wedding
Nacai
納采The groom's family sends a matchmaker to the bride's family to propose marriage, often with a gift of geese.
Key elements
- Matchmaker, messenger, gift of geese.
Naji
納吉The groom's family divines auspicious signs and informs the bride's family, accompanied by a gift of geese.
Key elements
- Divination, gift of geese.
Nazheng
納徵The groom's family delivers betrothal gifts to the bride's family, marking the formal preparation stage.
Key elements
- Betrothal gifts (silk, deerskin).
Qingqi
請期The groom's family selects an auspicious wedding date and confirms it with the bride's family.
Key elements
- Auspicious date selection, ceremonial letters, candles, cannons.
Wenming
問名The groom's family inquires about the bride's name and birth date for divination purposes.
Key elements
- Inquiry about name and birth date.
Wedding day
Qinying
親迎The groom personally leads a procession to the bride's home to welcome her to his family.
Key elements
- Jubilee costume for groom, ink carriage, Xuanduan costumes for attendants, lanterns, goose.
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