Chinese Wedding

Early blip today.. I am off to Harbin this afternoon.. 7 hours by train but there's fun to be had and Sunday there's a blippers meeting.

It was a wonderful day today. Michelle, one of the teachers from school got married. For those of you who have never been (and I imagine that's a lot) a Chinese wedding is very different to other weddings. For a start, the couple are already legally married having done that in the registry office usually about 6 months before the wedding party. The wedding photos have already been done in advance usually in a studio or a scenic park of both. Most things after that (on the party day) are the same. There are no gifts given at the party. Each person collects a red (another symbol of good luck) envelope into which money is placed for the couple.

The couple arrive in a limo and await the lighting of the fireworks before the car pulls in. This is a symbol of good luck. Michelle (as all brides seem to) looked stunning in her wedding dress. They then enter the reception place and the usual speeches are given. For some reason I had to give a speech for Michelle and her partner. (Michelle asked me if I wanted to give it in Chinese or in English. I just laughed.) After the speeches, Michelle and her new husband poured wine into stacked glasses and it flowed to other glasses.. You know the type of thing I am sure,

Food is then brought out. While everyone was eating, the happy couple retired to some room somewhere to change and Michelle came out wearing another stunning dress, this time in pink. They then proceeded to each table and visited each guest in turn. The guest gave over the red envelope and the bride offered each guest a cigarette as a thank you. The groom then lit the cigarette. Some people (but not many) declined the cigarette and drank a small toast instead, however, even non-smokers took up the habit for a few coughing drags as a gesture of respect.

At one table a small ritual was observed and that is my blip for today. A small plate covered in flour was placed on a chair. Two chopsticks were put on the plate and a peanut was placed in the middle. The groom placed his open mouth over the end of the chopsticks and the bride blew the peanut along the chopsticks into his mouth.

As was tradition, we left after our table had been visited by the couple. All in all a fascinating experience. I will post have more pics on my weekly facebook album if anyone is interested.