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 is the Chinese colour for brides.

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 then 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 later formally sand 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 the 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

After the wedding ceremony Italy China