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WEDDING CEREMONY

On the wedding day, the bride awaits the arrival of the bridal procession from the groom's house.

Two old women
The two old women stay with the bride, assist an encourage her during the ordeal. They are are ritual specialists and it is their duty to see that marriage rites are properly conducted.
Two old women

A group of young unmarried men including the groom set off with great noise for the bride's home.

At the bride's home door, the bridesmaids are preparing many tricky questions for the groom to answer. The groomsmen are helping the groom to pass all these tests.
Groom's party
Groom's party

At the bride' home, their entry is blocked by a group of unmarried girls. After some discussion the groom's party hands over a red envelope containing money to enter the house. The girls complain that the amount is not high enough.

Groom's poetry
Other games are happening. The groom needs to improvise a love poetry to convince the girls that he really loves the bride.
Groom's poetry

One young man needs to climb in order to reach lettuce leaves in order to simulate the lion's dance.

One man, on behalf of the groom, holds a bunch of flowers to be offered to the bride.
Flowers for unmarried girls
Flowers for unmarried girls

The bride is dressed in a red silk gown.

Relatives offering
The bride's parents and her relatives give her jewelry to wear.
Relatives offering

On the wedding day, the bride serves tea to her parents at home before the groom arrives. The tradition is thank her parents for raising her.

The ceremony at the bride's home is concluded with traditional group pictures.
Bride and groom with unmarried men
Bride and groom with unmarried men
Bride and groom with unmarried girls
Cheerful and smiling atmosphere at the bride's home.
Bride and groom with unmarried girls

The bride is then escorted to the groom's home.

In the past a bridal chair was used from the bride's home to her groom's home. it was the custom that only virgins may ride to their future husband's home in a bridal chair. Nowadays Mercedes Benz cars have replaced the red sedan chair.
Modern sedan chair
Modern sedan chair
Crackers
There is a feast at groom's house to announce the fact of marriage.
Crackers
Firecrackers are set off to frighten away evil spirits. Firecrackers are no longer allowed in Hong Kong but still unofficially accepted on specific events like Chinese New Year and wedding.
Crackers
Crackers

There is a sacrifice of chicken and pork to the ancestors.



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