Abstract: Do you know what the wedding customs are in Jilin, which has a rich history and culture? Do you know the characteristics of Jilin wedding? What kind of betrothal gift should I prepare for getting married in Jilin? In Jilin, the night before the wedding, no one is allowed to enter the groom's bridal chamber (sleeping room), especially the bed. No one is allowed to sit on the bed. An unmarried boy is required to press the bed. On the morning of the wedding, it is a warning to go to the ancestral graves. My ancestors told me that you are getting married. If you want to know more about Jilin’s wedding customs, then continue to browse the Jilin wedding customs prepared for you in this article!

1. Jilin Wedding Gift

Bride Price 1: "Three Golds" of Jewelry

"Three Golds" refers to the "three types" of jewelry, which is a relatively traditional saying. In the past, gold ornaments were usually given as gifts, and some families with poorer conditions also gave silver ornaments, mainly based on the family situation of the groom's family. Nowadays, in addition to gold and silver, the "three golds" of wedding gifts in Jilin can also choose diamonds and gemstones. Just choose three from "necklace, earrings, bracelets, and rings". It is better for the bride to choose herself.

Bride Gift 2: Home Appliances and Furniture

Jilin’s modern wedding gifts also have the custom of giving furniture and home appliances, but the delivery method has its own characteristics. It is usually given in two parts, one part when you get engaged and the rest when you get married. Major home appliances and furniture include: TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, beds, wardrobes, sofas, etc.

Betrothal gift 3: Wedding gift

Giving bride price to betrothed is an ancient tradition in China. Jilin has always followed this custom. Men and women in Jilin generally need to prepare bride price for marriage. It's just that sending a bride price here is not called "bringing a bride price" but "passing money". As for the specific amount of money, it is mostly negotiated in advance between the woman's family and Fang's family, and is usually between 40,000 and 50,000. When you get engaged, part of it is given away, and the remaining part is given when you get married.

2. Marriage customs

On the night before the wedding, no one can enter the groom's bridal chamber (sleeping room), especially the bed. You must find someone who has not married before. A married boy goes to bed and goes to his ancestors' graves on the morning of the wedding to tell his ancestors that he is getting married. Things to bring with you before departure include red belt coins (preferably new ones), neighbor meat (should have waist steak), red envelopes (prepare extra money for small ones, more places to use it), bring more if the man is spoiling you (unmarried ones) A few young men arranged for them to steal (not so many axes, chopsticks, spoons, plates, cups) and set off.

First check the doors of my father-in-law’s house (there are people at each door to collect red envelopes, the young man can use it, don’t be too aggressive to adjust the atmosphere) When you enter the house, change your words first (receive the red envelope) and then the father-in-law I will prepare something for you. Don’t be embarrassed. This is your breakfast. You must eat it. (There is a red envelope under the plate. Take it away.) The woman hides her shoes (take the red envelope and come out). Before you come out again (pour the coins you prepared on the bed. Ask your wife to grab a big handful, but you can’t hold back a handful.) Hug or carry your wife out (you can’t carry her mother’s soil with your feet) and walk back (it’s best not to walk on heavy roads). Let the red handkerchief prepared by the bride come into use. See Just throw a handkerchief at the wedding convoy. When you get home, you get out of the car first. The old woman takes the basin from the bride's hand (change her words and bring flowers) and goes into the house to sit on the bed for a while. The old woman brings the basin of water to her daughter-in-law. Wash your face. The girl’s sister puts out cosmetics (gives red envelopes) and the sister-in-law turns the quilt. (The man had to give the red envelope to his sister-in-law and take half of it.) Go to the hotel to prepare the meal for the ceremony.

3. Traditional marriage customs in Jilin

First of all, there is no early marriage among the Manchus. In the past, bad habits such as "finger wedding", "child marriage", "baby marriage", "little son-in-law" and "child bride" were popular among the Han people and some other ethnic groups, but this did not happen among the Manchus. Although the union of men and women among the Manchus was not free in the past, they had to wait until both men and women reached puberty before getting engaged and married.

When both men and women reach a certain age, the first action is called "asking the door." First, the matchmaker proposes to the woman's family on behalf of the man's family. The woman's mother (mother) should learn the man's name, age, and family status from the matchmaker. In particular, we should pay close attention to their ancestral origin and three generations of experience - the Manchu people attach great importance to family status, especially military merit.

If the woman's family is satisfied with the matchmaker's introduction, they can say something interesting: "Let's finish the marriage here." This is equivalent to telling the other party that there is hope for the marriage. The matchmaker hurriedly asked: "When will the news be confirmed?" The woman's family said such and such a day. So the matchmaker said goodbye and left.

After the woman’s wife sent the matchmaker away, she introduced the man’s situation to her husband. If the husband agrees, Nana will introduce the situation to the girl, and also discuss her husband's and her own opinions. If the girl is satisfied with the man's situation, she will nod and say: "Nana and Ama (father) will make the decision!" In some Manchu areas, there is a popular custom of "watching the door" where parents peek at each other. "Looking at the family" is mainly to understand the other party's family background and character, not money. After "Looking at the Door", the next step is "Xiao Ding".

Xiao Ding is the second time that the matchmaker came to the woman’s home with a marriage proposal mission. After getting a positive answer from the woman’s family, she brought the man’s Na Na to the woman’s home to see each other. If the man is satisfied with the girl's character, behavior, appearance and other aspects, he will leave the hairpin as a wedding ceremony, which is commonly known as "Xiao Ding".

After "Xiaoding" is "return gift". The return gift means that after the woman's family accepts the "fixed gift" from the man's family, she chooses an auspicious day to give gifts to the man's family.

In the past, in the early days of the Jurchen tribe, a man who married a wife could obtain a share of her wife's assets.

After "return gift" is "put it down". "Putting" means that after the girl's family returns the gift, the boy's family should prepare gifts such as jewelry, clothing, pigs, wine, etc., choose an auspicious day, and go to the girl's house with many relatives and friends from the clan. The girl's family also invites many people from the clan, relatives and friends to welcome them. . The woman's family sets up an offering table in the hall, and the man's family places gifts on the offering table. The amamas of both men and women kneel side by side in front of the altar table, pour the two cups of wine and exchange them, commonly known as "exchanging cups". Then the woman's family holds a banquet to entertain the guests from the man's family.

After both parties were seated, the clan elders of Guofang’s family stood up and gave a speech, formally proposing to the girl’s family. It usually goes like this: "The boy from a certain family, although unworthy, has grown up and is of marriageable age. I heard that a girl from a certain family is virtuous and intelligent, and came to propose marriage today. If accepted, our whole family will feel honored." "The elder of the woman's family stood up and made a humble speech. After repeated pleas by the elder of the man's family, the elder of the woman's family agreed.

At this time, under the guidance of the matchmaker, the man follows the woman’s Amma to worship the ancestral board of the woman’s family (which is the ancestral genealogy of the Han people, or the Dapu); and then recognizes Brother Amu (father-in-law) ), Brother Emu (mother-in-law) and other elders of the woman’s family. At this point, the marriage relationship between the two families was officially settled. After "putting down" comes "questioning".

After some preparations, the man's family thought that the conditions for welcoming the bride were met, so they held a banquet to invite the matchmaker and the woman's parents to agree on a date for the wedding. "Question" is followed by "courtesy".

After the wedding day is set, the groom’s family will send the clothes, jewelry, cloth, pigs, wine and other gifts prepared for the woman to the woman’s parents one month before the wedding. At home, this is commonly known as "courtesy", also called "having a big tea". After "ceremony" comes "cutting".

The Manchu people are very particular about how they dress, and the girls are also very skillful. The so-called "cutting" means that the girl's family chooses an auspicious day and puts the cloth sent by the boy's family on the table in the middle hall. Amma or Dada will cut it with scissors, and then the girl will cut it according to her own figure and preferences. Style, cut and sewn by yourself. On the day of the haircut, the girl must groom herself carefully and change her hair style from braided to a bun (this is a traditional Manchu hair style). The hair is tied on the top of the head, making the person look very solemn. When a girl combs her hair like this, it means that she has been betrothed to someone else. After "cutting" is the dowry gift, also called "passing the box".

On the day before the wedding, the natal family presents a dowry to the girl and sends the girl’s female companion and younger siblings to deliver the dowry to the groom’s family. After the groom's family receives the dowry, the new son-in-law must carry "Li Niang Meat" (pig rib meat) and ride to the bride's family's house to express his gratitude to Brother Amu and Brother Emu.

On the day before the wedding, the bride, accompanied by her bridesmaids, comes to live in a pre-borrowed residence near the groom's house. This is called "laying villa", also called "laying place". A few coins are placed on the kang where the bride lives, which is called "kang money." "Building a villa" is an ancient tradition in the Eight Banners Army. At that time, the Eight Banners soldiers were stationed at the border for several years without returning. The Manchu girl who was far away in her hometown kept her engagement and came thousands of miles to get married. She first had to borrow a house to live near the military camp.

When the wedding day arrives, the groom and the bride’s family get up and get busy at midnight. The bride's family uses a caravan to see the bride off, and the groom's family uses a float to welcome the bride. When sending off the bride, the bride's brothers or clan brothers should walk on both sides of the carriage to escort the bride, and they must always pay attention and are strictly prohibited from driving quickly. This is called "escorting the carriage." The custom of "escorting the car" is related to the custom of bride snatching in ancient clan society, and is also closely related to the later military escorting of marriages thousands of miles away.

The bride's family's wedding caravan departs from the place where the villa is "laid down" at the fifth watch; the groom's family's wedding float also departs at the fifth watch. When the two cars met on the way, the outer cars crossed each other. The bride changes into her wedding attire on the wedding carriage, and is carried by Amma to the wedding carriage, which is called "carriage insertion". This ceremony is also related to the ancient military marriage of the Manchu people.

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