WEDDING CEREMONY

Before the bride can be considered a member of her husband's household she has to pay her respects to his ancestors.

A woman is burning joss sticks to inform the ancestors of the arrival of the girl into her new family.

Traditionally, after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea, inviting the groom's elders to drink tea. The newlyweds serve tea in order, starting with the groom's parents then proceeding from the oldest family members to the youngest.

The people being served sit in chairs while the bride and groom kneel. In return, the newlyweds receive lucky red envelopes stuffed with money or jewelry.

Red is central to the wedding theme of China. It signifies love, joy and prosperity. The bride's wedding gown is red, as are the wedding invitations, and wedding gift boxes or envelopes for cash gifts.

From wedding gowns to invitation cards, all sorts of wedding necessities are available in Mongkok's Golden Plaza.

The groom, the bride, the groomsmen, the bridesmaids and the groom's family are smiling for the traditional group picture.

The groom then escorted the bride to the lineage's central ancestral hall.

The groom and the bride hold joss sticks and worship the altar containing the ancestral tablets.

Ancestor worship has bound together the extended family or clan, the most important unit of Chinese society. The newlyweds have to worship each ancestors of the extended family.

Newlyweds pay also respect to the village's Earth God Shrine. The Earth God protects the inhabitants and registers births, deaths, and marriages in Heaven. Once worship is done, firecrackers are lit in order to frighten ghosts. Joss sticks are also lit.

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