Marriage customs in southern Fujian (1)
Tearful
Jiaoqian pork knuckle
The marriage customs of Minnan people are strange and amazing. For example, in the wedding procession, the thick pig feet in the red bamboo and blue are particularly eye-catching, and the locals call them "pig feet in front of sedan chairs". Whenever someone marries a daughter-in-law, among the gifts to be sent to the woman's home, pork knuckle meat with the same leg size is indispensable (meaning that the two in-laws are happy). The weight should be about 20 Jin per foot. If it is too small, it will be considered stingy by the woman. The joints of pig's trotters should be tied up with red silk thread, and the other end should be wrapped in red paper into a red envelope, in which is 12 yuan, which means that you have no worries about food and clothing every day for the next 12 months. Then put in two red baskets for workmanship inspection (that is a gift box specially used for weddings, commonly known as red baskets). In addition, the pole with "red basket" is also exquisite, and red paper should be stuck at both ends of the pole for good luck. When you arrive at the woman's house, the pig's feet in front of the sedan chair should be placed in the hall of the woman's house. The bride's parents should count the pig's feet and the gifts they brought, and symbolically cut a piece of pork, weighing about 2 kg. If it is cut too big, it will be said that the family is greedy, and the rest will be taken back to the man's house by the wedding team together with the dowry.
It is said that "pig's feet in front of sedan chair" was very popular in southern Fujian as early as the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, the indigenous people in southern Fujian often rebelled, and the imperial court often sent troops into Fujian to quell the chaos. At that time, when my daughter got married, Minnan people were crying and very sad. The team leader sent someone to inquire. It turns out that southern Fujian is sparsely populated, and there are towering old trees and wolves everywhere. Girls are often attacked by tigers on their way to marriage, and some even lose their lives (another legend is that the Tiangou bit the bride), so they cry very sadly. Some people in the army felt strange and brought the matter back to Beijing to report. Cheng, the founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty, came up with a plan: the tiger was forced by hunger and hurt people, but the tiger was born to eat meat, so he could hang pork in front of the sedan chair. As soon as a tiger appears, they throw it to the tiger to fill their stomachs, and the bride and everyone can follow suit. Because it is easy to carry, the whole piece of meat is hung in front of the sedan chair, so it is called "trotters in front of the sedan chair".
Southern Fujian Marriage Customs (2)
Tearful
Bagua rice screen
Rice sieve is a daily necessity for the people, but it is also an important item in the marriage customs of southern Fujian. For example, when the bride gets married at the door, she needs a rice screen with a gossip pattern to cover her head, and then she can be welcomed into the man's house, which means peace and good luck. It is called "gossip rice screen" locally.
Speaking of "gossip rice screen", there is still a history. Legend has it that before the Tang Dynasty, southern Fujian was desolate, and local bandits often rebelled. In addition, because of the high mountains, bandits often harass people. At that time, it often happened that the bride's sedan chair was robbed or the bride was shot with arrows, and the people were often worried about it. After Tang Jun came to Zhangzhou for development, the people reported the matter to the garrison for protection. Everyone can't come up with a good plan because bandits are moving around. When the news reached the capital, Cheng, the founding hero, came up with a clever plan: he could order the sergeant to hang a shield in front of the sedan chair. If any random arrows come, the bride will block them with a shield, which will ensure safety. This move really worked. The villagers widely use shields as umbrellas and brides' amulets. With the development of Tang Jun and local people, Zhangzhou area has gradually become peaceful and prosperous, and bandits are less blatant. The bride was not injured by random arrows again. Because there is no danger, and the shield is bulky and inconvenient to carry, people use it instead of a rice screen similar to a shield. In order to distinguish it from the ordinary rice screen, the rice screen is painted with eight diagrams and auspicious patterns, as if it were a shield to ward off evil spirits and protect the body. It is also called "gossip rice screen", which is widely spread. This is the origin of "gossip rice screen".
Another legend is that in ancient times, in southern Fujian, it often happened that Tengu came to rob beautiful girls. After this incident was reported to the court, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, Cheng, drew a gossip rice screen and put it in the bride's sedan chair to ward off evil spirits. Because Tengu is afraid of gossip, it is very peaceful. Anyway, the story of "Eight Diagrams and Rice Sieves" set by Cheng in the Tang Dynasty has been widely circulated in southern Fujian today.
"Eight diagrams rice screen" is a newly selected rice screen, and the back is painted with eight diagrams in red paint. The bamboo nails of the rice screen will be exposed, which means that Ding will be rich. When you go to marry the bride, put the rice screen in the sedan chair or in front of it. When the bride comes back from marriage and wants to get off the sedan chair, she will pick up the rice screen and cover it on the bride's head, saying auspicious words such as "the rice screen is high, and the grandson knows best". At the same time, there is a big dustpan for the peasant woman to stand at the bride's feet, so that the bride can't see the sky or the ground, so it is valuable. Then, take the rice screen to the new house and store it on the bed for peace and good luck.
With the passage of time, nowadays, for the convenience of carrying, urban residents use a flower umbrella with the beginning of gossip to replace the use of gossip rice screen when they get married. On the one hand, it is auspicious, on the other hand, it is also a shelter from wind and rain. However, in rural weddings, it is still necessary to prepare a "gossip rice screen" to cover the bride and put it on the bed for good luck. This has become a unique wedding custom in southern Fujian and has been passed down from generation to generation among rural people.
Southern Fujian Marriage Customs (3)
Tearful
Advocating red and sweetness
Minnan people regard red as respect, greatness, happiness and auspiciousness. From the early years to the present, weddings and big days have made the whole family gorgeous. Invitations should be posted in halls, doorways and gates. Such as: "Purple swallows fly in pairs to welcome the spring, red flowers bloom in the morning", "Auspicious people preach auspicious words when they are lucky, and new people get married in the New Year". The bride should wear a red shirt and skirt, a red scarf and red shoes embroidered with mandarin ducks. After being introduced, the bride should specially insert red silk and spring flowers for her mother-in-law or female elders to show affection and respect, and worship her in-laws with red dates and sweet tea; There should be a red silk wedding account in the hall.
sugarcane
Two bunches of sugarcane with roots, leaves, heads and tails were placed at the wedding scene, and each bunch of four or five sugarcane was tied tightly with HongLing, indicating that the marriage was in pairs, and the husband and wife loved each other after marriage, such as sweet sugarcane.
Southern Fujian Marriage Customs (4)
Tearful
Oven teapot
When it comes to Minnan people, they can't live without their kungfu tea for a moment. The traditional wedding in Minnan naturally exudes a strong tea fragrance. There is a huge oven and teapot for making tea at the wedding scene. According to the marriage customs in southern Fujian, the couple have the intention of prospering every other kitchen. The four characters "He Jing Yi Zhen" on the stove are not only a tea ceremony in the eyes of Minnan people, but also a way for couples to be happy. Warn the new couple that their backgrounds are different and the gap is not small, but in marriage, we should remember to respect each other, accommodate each other and tolerate each other. After listening to this golden advice, each new couple drank a cup of kungfu tea symbolizing "sweet happiness", and I believe they also had a deeper feeling.
Southern Fujian Marriage Customs (5)
Bridal gift (given by the man to the woman)
In China, tea is closely related to marriage. As early as the Ming Dynasty, there was a record of "hiring tea". Fogg, a native of A Qing Dynasty, lived in Volume 8>: "In this wedding, taking tea as money is a common thing in Manchu and Han dynasties, and the official office is not necessary." It can be seen that tea is closely related to marriage and can be said to be a very serious "contract".
However, the most interesting marriage customs related to tea are Minnan and Taiwan Province Province. In these areas, drinking tea is very popular, and men and women are also used to using tea gifts when they are engaged. This ancient heritage has been preserved to this day. The marriage etiquette in Fujian and Taiwan is always called "three tea ceremonies". "Three teas" are "tea" when engaged, "tea" when married, and "tea" when meeting lovesickness.
In feudal society, "parents' orders and matchmakers' words" cannot be disobeyed. When the man accompanied the matchmaker or parents to the woman's house to propose marriage, the woman's parents used to ask the daughter to be married to serve tea to the guests. After the cup is filled, it is distributed to the man's visitors in the order of generations, thus opening the prelude to "blind date". The man's family took the opportunity to examine the girl's appearance, words and deeds, and the girl secretly looked at her future husband. The man goes to the woman's house to "get married" (get engaged), and the woman to be married brings sweet tea (called "golden silk jujube tea" in Fujian and Taiwan) for the man's guests to taste. After drinking sweet tea, this person's guest will return the gift with double coins wrapped in red paper. This gift is called "pressing the tea bottle". On the wedding day, the man's wedding team comes to the woman's house, and the woman's house will invite her to eat "egg tea" (sweet tea has an egg boiled with sugar).
After the man's wedding reception, the bride and groom, accompanied by matchmakers or family members, hold tea trays with candied fruit, sweet wax gourd strips and other "tea matches" to invite guests. This ceremony is called "Eating Bridal Tea". After eating the "bride tea", tourists should wrap red envelopes and put them in a teacup as gifts. Sometimes guests deliberately refuse to accept "bride tea" to show mutual concessions, and the comedy in the bridal chamber begins with "tea ceremony". In addition, on the second day of their wedding, the newlyweds hold "golden jujube tea" (two candied dates in each small cup), bow down to their elders at the first time, and then offer tea, which is a famous folk "tea worship" in southern Fujian and Taiwan Province Province, and also the climax of tea ceremony in marriage. If relatives and elders who are far away from home can't attend the wedding, the groom's family will wrap the tea in red paper and send it with golden jujube.
So, why is the tea ceremony popular in Fujian and Taiwan? Because in Minnan and Taiwan Province Province, tea trees are a symbol of unity and tireless death. According to Lang Ying's GT; And Chen's gt; Record: "All tea trees must be sown, and the transplanted ones will not be revived. Therefore, in the old society, the bride must take tea as a gift and take it as a loyalty! " In this sense, the marriage custom of "tea ceremony" in Fujian and Taiwan is worthy of being a valuable folk culture.
Folk custom and marriage custom in southern Fujian
Nongmo He Xue
As the saying goes: ten miles is different. This sentence is true at all. My husband's home is about ten miles away from mine, but the customs are quite different. Today I'm going to talk about the marriage customs in southern Fujian. Of course, I can only say a little, because the details are different, even in the same village and even next door neighbors may be different.
The ancient marriage customs in southern Fujian are extremely complicated, but those mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who are not afraid of trouble enjoy it. A new wife must look at the door first. After three days, nothing happened in both houses. If you are satisfied, move on to the next step. If any family breaks something in these three days, or a child bumps into something, or something unlucky happens, then even if they are satisfied, they can only give up. In addition, it is impossible to match the age difference of birthdays with 3, 6 or 9, which is the custom in many places. The next step is to choose a good day to watch, choose a good day, the man's parents bring four-color candy biscuits, prepare red envelopes or ornaments, and go to the woman's house. If they are satisfied, they will stay at the woman's house for a light meal. If the woman's family is satisfied, they will let the girl out and pour a cup of tea for the guests before dinner. If they are not satisfied, girls won't come out, so men don't have to stay for dinner. After dinner, the man will leave a red envelope or jewelry as a gift for the girl. It's just a gift, and neither side will care about the amount. This marriage is half done.
In southern Fujian, engagement is more important than marriage. No matter whether there is a marriage certificate or not, as long as you are engaged, this marriage is over half. In the countryside, everyone recognizes that you have a family. It is the same as marrying a daughter-in-law who comes and goes. Talking about this engagement is also extremely troublesome. Before engagement, the two sides should agree on how much dowry, including: dowry, girl's clothing expenses, jewelry, candy and biscuits, cigarettes, food and drinks at the woman's house, and so on. Of course, most of them are converted into money now. On that day, the man's family will call twenty or thirty relatives early in the morning, and the woman will carry three incense sticks to worship her ancestors, and then go to the temples in Shili Baxiang separately. It takes about noon from morning. Generally, under the leadership of the groom-to-be and his parents, the man comes to the woman's house with three raw fish, four-color candy, biscuits and fruits and a part of the dowry (the rest is reserved for the bride to enter the house). The woman's family also called a dozen relatives. First, give a snack red envelope to every guest in the man's house, and then list what the man sent as going to Shili Baxiang to make pilgrimages. The woman's family will let the girl out for tea after the guests have finished their snacks. When this tea is served, the prospective mother-in-law will naturally wear a full set of jewelry for the prospective daughter-in-law (jewelry must be paired). In the future, the mother-in-law will naturally put a ring on the prospective son-in-law, and then wait for the relatives who worship incense to come back for a lively meal. This marriage is settled.
Next, it's time to talk about marriage. In many places in southern Fujian, families with girls are worried. This dowry often makes many families sell iron to marry women. Generally speaking, the bride should double the dowry (for example, the man should send 50,000 yuan, and the woman's family should at least marry100,000 yuan). Of course, there are many rich families, with millions of dowry, and few without money, but generally it will not be less than twice the dowry. At worst, the bride price was returned intact and accompanied by a little more, so in southern Fujian, boys were particularly favored.
It is natural to prepare all kinds of necessities before marriage. I'm not talking about furniture or anything, I'm talking about something else As the wedding day approaches, the girl's family should prepare some established things in advance: coarse grains (meaning that the girl will return to the past five melons), red flowers on the table (meaning auspicious flowers in the bride's room), filial piety cloth (white cloth tied with red rope is enough for the girl to make a mourning suit in the future, meaning that her in-laws will live for a hundred years), and seven buckets (including washbasins, buckets and bathtubs for future children). Two boxes (this box is for clothes and dowry, which is carried by bridesmaids and others on the wedding day, and then put in the hall to count the dowry in public, so it is natural to put money on it. Everyone knows how much a daughter-in-law's dowry is. Of course, some dowry is a passbook and a house, written in red paper and brought into a photo frame.
Three days or one day before the wedding, there is a custom of serving dishes (three days and one day, depending on both sides). This dish is listed as four-color candy, biscuits and fish. Now many people exchange money directly to the woman, and the woman buys it herself, leaving some manpower. By that day, the man only picked a few interesting dishes, which, of course, was amazing in some coastal areas. One load 100 kg, ranging from 36 loads to 72 loads. On the day of serving, the woman will invite more than a dozen relatives to each household in the village to distribute candy and biscuits in pairs. In those coastal areas, these are divided into a pot of soup, so these dozens of loads of candy and biscuits are needed. Some villages with a large population are not enough, so women have to pay for themselves. I don't usually have that much here, just four sweets and four biscuits per household. According to the schedule, the two sides will still ask many relatives to help them go to the temples in Shili Baxiang to make pilgrimages, so don't mention the trouble and fatigue.
It's finally the wedding day. This is a kind of enjoyment. It's all here, needless to say. On that day, the groom came to marry the beautifully dressed bride, who was accompanied by his younger brother or brother and uncles and aunts. In some coastal areas, a yellow hat is worn at weddings, and the hat just covers her face with black gauze. I forgot to mention that in many places, the bride should ask an old man to twist her face before getting married, which is called opening her face. When they arrive at a man's house, the bridegroom's next of kin must quit first, and the bride goes straight into the new house until tea is invited. This tea invitation is also very particular. The tea was brought by the bride and contained lead powder. As I said before, it is for affinity, also called sweetness. First, send tea to your in-laws. Please read some auspicious words to the old people who specialize in this matter. In many places, new people will kneel to their parents when serving tea. In order to thank parents for their kindness, the bride will give her in-laws a gift after tea, usually gold ornaments, and of course clothes, and her in-laws will also seal a red envelope for their new wife as a gift. Then the new wife sends tea to the groom's uncles, aunts, sisters and brothers. Every time they finish drinking tea, they exchange gifts. This gift is usually hand-decorated clothes, and rich people grow up. Brides often spend tens of thousands of yuan on bride price, while those from poor families only spend three or five hundred yuan. This tea has also been invited out. Is the wedding reception here? Oh, not yet.
On the second day of the wedding, before dawn, the bride's younger brother came to take the bride home, coming at three or four in the morning and five or six in the evening. The groom will go to the bride's house for lunch. On this day, the bride's family invited the groom and relatives of the bride's family. It's called repeat customers. According to the arrangement, the groom will take the bride home after dinner, and the bride's family will prepare two sugar cane with a head and a tail and two chickens (a male and a female) to take home to the couple. When approaching, someone will inform the groom's family first, and they should avoid the bride first, and then they can come out to meet when the bride enters the door (this is called avoiding relatives, meeting in southern Fujian is called "blocking", and quarreling is also called "blocking". This avoidance is also to avoid quarreling in the future). The bride has to go back to the house three times within one month of the wedding. The remaining two times are not as complicated as the first time, but she can't go back to the groom's house until dark. At this point, the marriage was successfully completed.