WEDDING CEREMONIES AND CUSTOMS IN CHINA AND ITALY CERIMONIE ED USANZE NUZIALI IN CINA E IN ITALIA
Two couples in our two countries
Marriage is a religious and civil institution in all civilized countries, all over the world. Wedding ceremonies may change according to both historical time and geographical position of each country, but emotions and a kind of organisation of the wedding event are almost the same…
The bride’s dress in the past
White is definitely the Italian colour for a wedding ceremony RED was the Chinese colour for brides. Nowadays things have changed…
The bride’s dress now
Before the wedding ceremony Italy China Wedding Eve party The bride’s hairstylist at work
Three Letters and Six Etiquettes
——Three Letters and Six Etiquettes 三书六礼（SAN SHU LIU LI） ——Three Letters and Six Etiquettes Etiquettes: 纳采 Proposing 问名 Birthdates matching 纳吉 Presenting betrothal gifts 纳征 Presenting wedding gifts 请期 Picking a wedding date 亲迎 Wedding ceremony Letters: 聘书 Betrothal Letter 礼书 Gift Letter 迎书 Wedding Letter
Presenting betrothal gifts: Once birthdays match, the groom’s family will arrange the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, enclosing the betrothal letter, to the bride’s family. Presenting wedding gifts: After the betrothal letter and betrothal gifts are accepted, the groom’s family will formally send wedding gifts to the bride’s family. Usually, gifts may include tea, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, green beans, red dates, nutmeg, oranges, pomegranate, lily, bridal cakes, coconuts, wine, red hair braid, money box and other stuff, depending on local customs and family wealth.
During the wedding ceremony Italy China Perform the formal wedding ceremony: Three bows: . the bride's father leaves his daughter with her husband to be
The «three bow» ceremony The couple bow three times : They first bow to the great heaven and earth. Then they bow to their great parents. They finally bow to each other.
The Italian wedding ceremony There are also other moments which are relevant to the wedding ceremony and party…
The husband with his mother The church Leaving the church and launching flower petals Exchanging rings The bride’s old style car
At the restaurant for the wedding lunch Party starting presents from the just married couple The couple entering the restaurant Cutting the cake into slices The menu on the table Ending fireworks
Chinese symbols Parents sit here They stick it to a window pane The husband lifts the bride’s veil Some gifts for good wish
After the wedding ceremony Italy China Coming back to the wife’s home HoneyMoon cruise
New trends... Civil unions Italy China