Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony: What You Should Know
The Chinese wedding tea ceremony is a very significant part of the Chinese wedding ceremony today. This ritual is normally practiced the day of the wedding either during the reception or in the home. It is used to introduce the groom's family to the bride. All the family members are usually at the wedding so this is the best time to do it. Usually the tea ceremony for introducing the bride to groom's family is held during the morning hours. The bride's family waits until later in the day in the afternoon to hold the tea ceremony to meet the groom. The times can vary though due to the activities of the day. Additional Locations For The Tea Ceremony The Chinese wedding tea ceremony can also be done at the wedding reception too after the actual ceremony has taken place. It is a way to honor the elders in the family. The bride and groom both honor their parents through doing this ritual. This is to thank them for their love all the years of their lives. The bride positions herself on the groom's left. Other family members sit around the bride and groom as they kneel to do the tea ceremony. The bride and the groom serve the tea. The parents are always served first. Then it goes in the order are grand aunts and uncles, aunts and uncles, and on down the line with the cousins last. Types Of Gifts When the tea drinking is done then gifts are given to the groom and bride. Some of the relatives may expect the groom and bride to immediately place the jewelry on. The gifts can be either jewelry or money in red envelopes. The helpers for the ceremony many times are also given gifts of money in red envelopes called lai see.
A sweet tea is used for the ceremony to symbolize the couple's new union. The tea made of red dates and lotus seeds symbolizes that a couple will have children rather fast and continual along their marriage. On the other hand the tea made of red dates and longans is a wish for the couple to have male children. The longan symbolizes a dragon. These teas might be preferred because of the symbolic meaning but any red sweet tea will do. After The Ceremony Now the tea service that is used for this ceremony is normally part of the bride's dowry and is purchased by her parents. There are various patterns and styles for these sets. Some have the western style tea cups while the others have the traditional cups. This tea set can then be used for the bride's daughter's wedding tea ceremony if she has a girl that is. So this tea set is a keepsake that is cherished. It is nice to know that a ceremony to honor parents has lasted through time. The tradition of the Chinese wedding tea ceremony is a long and illustrious one. It is used to thank the parents and to honor them for their love and guidance in the bride's and groom's lives.
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Tea Used During Ceremony