What are the marriage customs in Yichuan, Luoyang, Henan Province?

(A) discuss marriage (Nacai, ask the name)

In Luoyang, western Henan, usually the man's family to find a matchmaker, so that the matchmaker to the woman's family to propose marriage to the woman's family to the woman's family to introduce the basic conditions of the man's family and the economic situation. After the female family is satisfied, the female parents to the male "phase home", the marriage roughly agreed, the matchmaker and both

Parents to set up a banquet in the male family, the banquet on the two men and women solemnly exchanged men and women's birthdays and eight characters of the gung stickers, raise a glass to celebrate, forever married, unalterable.

(2) Engagement (Naji, Najing)

The ancient Naji and Najing. The man's family divines the auspicious omen and then sends a matchmaker to the woman's family to exchange wedding invitations. First of all, the exchange of "geng stickers", in addition, the man has to give the woman to send bride price, the bride price Luoyang commonly known as "four-color gift",

Traditional customs, the engagement four-color gift and door-to-door four-color gift is not the same.

The four-color engagement ceremony is a way for the man's family to go to the woman's home to formally propose marriage through a matchmaker. By the matchmaker with "four-color gift" (tea, sugar, canned food or fruit, pastries, etc.) to the woman's home to formally propose, the woman's family agreed to accept the "drop gift", and agreed on the date of engagement. Otherwise, the gift will be rejected. Engaged to be married, some places called "mention the gift", that is, the man to the woman and her immediate family members, aunts and uncles, older siblings and so on to send "four-color gift". Some of the cash instead, the amount of tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars, but also to the female parents to send clothing and mutton, etc., the female family hosted a banquet to entertain the matchmaker and the relatives.

The door-to-door four-color gift, also known as four-box gift, also known as four-color gift. A gift of meat, usually five-flower meat, the portion should be sufficient, at least must be cut on the 10 city pounds, on the top, the more the better; a bottle of good wine, preferably aged wine; a package of sweets, a box of snacks. Regional characteristics of the local customs of gift-giving, that is, four kinds of gifts, four colors that is, the four seasons, indicating a year, containing from beginning to end, perfect, beautiful and so on the implication that the younger generation of the blessing of the elders. China's vast territory, customs vary from place to place, and the content of the gift is not the same

The woman gives pen and ink, stationery, folding fan to the man, meaning that she expects her son-in-law to become a talented man.

(3) Marriage

Usually, it is necessary to go through the process of posting, gift, sending dowry, and welcoming the bride.

The next post. (Please period) is also called "send good". That is, the two sides to the marriage age, the man should be asked to choose an auspicious date for marriage (commonly known as "good"), and then will choose an auspicious date (good) written in the "book", the auspicious date to tell the woman to prepare for the marriage matters. The woman agrees, then you can take the letter of engagement. Luoyang people often choose the wedding date of the "auspicious day of the zodiac" or the three, six, nine days of the lunar calendar.

The gift. Half a month or ten days before the wedding, the man must give the bride price to the woman, gifts of clothing, shoes and socks, suits, cosmetics, jewelry and meat, snacks, pasta, etc.

Preparing for the wedding.

Preparing the dowry. Preparing the dowry is the main thing for the woman to do before the wedding, and it has always been emphasized by people. The amount of dowry often determines the bride's future status in her husband's family. Families with good economic conditions of the woman, the preparation of the dowry thick and complete, the economic situation is poor

By the male party to prepare properly before the wedding carried to the woman's home, the day of the wedding and then as a dowry to carry back. There are also cases where the man pays for the woman to buy the dowry.

Send the dowry. Held the day before the wedding or on the day of the wedding, the male party in the dowry before lifting the meat on one side, a plate of rice, commonly known as "resignation of the mother of rice, away from the mother of meat". After the dowry was carried to the male family, the dowry escort gave the key to the groom's mother.