Chinese Wedding Night Ritual

     The night after a wedding celebration is that of one filled to the brim with smiles, laughs, and love. In certain cultures though, the night after a wedding is far more important and means much more. Take the Chinese culture, for example. After a traditional Chinese wedding, the couple in question is to follow special rituals and customs throughout the duration of the night. Each ritual has a specific reason to it and symbolizes quite the lot.

     After a Chinese couple's wedding celebration ends, the couple is put into a room in which they spend the entire remainder of the night. This room will be filled with lit dragon and phoenix candles, which are believed to drive away evil spirits and ensure a healthy and undisturbed marriage. The newlyweds spend their night drinking wine from two glasses tied together by a red string. This symbolizes the formal wedding vow in Chinese culture. They also feast on all sorts of food, including half-raw dumplings. These dumplings, although not very tasty, ensure happiness and indicate family prosperity. In between it all, small games, dances, and other such activities are done by the couple throughout the entire night. All in all, the newlyweds simply enjoy each others company, which is ultimately the most important factor of the night. 

By Julia Dankov