OUR TRADITIONS
As the old saying goes, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." On this page, you can learn about some of the traditions we'll be observing during our wedding festivities.
In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority. People perform lion dances at Chinese festivals or big occasions to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.
Performed in a lion costume, accompanied by the music of beating drums, clashing cymbals, and resounding gongs, lion dances imitate a lion's various movements or demonstrate martial arts agility, depending on the style.
At a wedding celebration, the bride and groom feed the Lions "Choy Cheng" or "Eating of the green". This is usually lettuce or bok choy combined with a lucky red envelope. The lions "eat" the greens and then spit it back out by tossing loose leaves to guests to spread the evening's good luck.
LION DANCE
In a traditional Chinese wedding, the tea ceremony is one of the most significant events.
The earliest written record of tea ceremonies emerged during the Tang Dynasty over 1200 years ago. It was initially called cha dao (茶道）or the way of tea.
Today, many couples show respect to both the bride and groom's families by hosting tea ceremonies for both sides. When they do, it marks the point when the two families become relatives.
Tea ceremonies are very formal events. The parents of the bride and groom sit on chairs while the married couple bows and serves them tea. The order of serving tea is very important. The parents will be served first, followed by grandparents, grand uncles and aunts, uncles and aunts, and then elder siblings.
Sometimes, sweet items such as lotus seeds, longans, and red dates are served, which are symbols of many children, long life, and blessings.
After the couple serves tea, the parents respond by presenting the new couple with red envelopes containing money and sometimes even gold jewelry. At the same time, many parents will also give the couple some advice and blessings, expressing their love and best wishes.
(The Tea Ceremony will be held privately with the Bride and Groom and their Parents at a later date.)