Last Tuesday class, we were talking about different wedding customs in different places, even though they may be in the same country. It was interesting.

In my hometown, FuQing (FuJian,China), the week before the wedding is a very busy time. They prepare the bridal chamber and the bride's wedding dresses, which sometimes are three different dresses. The colour of Red is jubilant, black and white are tabu. The number of things in a bridal chamber is an even number, or the number 3 (the pronunciation has good meanings in my hometown). In the past, the bridegroom and bride couldn't see each other, but now it doesn't matter. They may come together to buy something which they will need for the wedding.

The fortnight before the wedding is important and busy. There will be some Buddhist rituals, which will last 3-4 hours. It is the blessing of the young people who will get married the next day. The day of the wedding is such an important day! There is a party at the bride parents' home before another one at the bridegroom' home. It is believed that certain hours of the day are lucky hours. For example from 12 to 1 pm. So the lucky time is not long enough and the groom and his friends, the groomsmen, have to collect the bride during that hour.

The groomsmen follow the bridegroom to the bride's house, because when the bridegroom takes the bride away, the bridesmaids will ask some questions to the bridegroom and the groomsmen will try their best to help him answer the questions, otherwise they can't take the bride away. It is amusing, but sometimes it becomes a problem, so usually there is a person to control it. When the bridegroom takes the bride away, there is a simple ceremony, the bride's parents will cry, their friends will cry when they remember the good times they had together in the past and now they think they maybe not see their friends easily. The controller will stop it, because a wedding is a happy thing and they should finnish before 1 pm, which is the end of the lucky hour. As they leave the bride's home, her parents will pour a jug of water behind the bride and groom, which means that the married daughter is thrown out of the water and hope their girl will have a happy life. Then the bridegroom's home's feast will begin.

When the bridegroom takes the bride to his home, there is also a simple ceremony, some people in bridal chamber ask for lots of sweets and cigarettes, or money. The bridegroom and bride have to stay in their bridal chamber, so they have to accept their request. Sometimes it becomes a problem when they require too much. But at last it will be solved, the bridegroom and bride come into their new room. Then the feast in the bridegroom's home begins. During the feast the bridegroom and the bride will drink a toast to the guests who come to their wedding, and all of the guests drink a toast to the bridegroom and the bride. When the feast is over, the newlyweds' best friends will have some games. It is a happy day, they will have different games from other days.

Before the feast starts, people who are invited, will give the newly Wed's parents money or give presents to the bride (like some jewellery). When the feast is over, both in the bride's parents home and bridegroom's home, they will give their wedding guests some presents, like sweets, delicious cakes, meat and noodles. Sometimes they give back the money that the guests had given to the bride and groom. If their parents are rich and they are happy when their children get married, they give the money back to everyone; sometimes only to some of guests if they may be an important person or an older person.

The next two days of the wedding are important. The first day the newlyweds will come to the bride parents' home to greet them. It means that the son-in-law will protect his wife and there will have a simple feast for their kin. On the secondly day, the bride's brother and uncle will visit them. There will also have a simple feast, it means that the elders hope their new son-in -law will look after their daughter and their daughter will help her husband. And all of it means that they hope they love each other for ever and help each other for ever.

Have a good day , everyone! Thank you for reading it in your valuable time! I hope you can tell me the wedding customs in your hometown one day!^_^!