My girlfriend is from Dingxi, my hometown is in Tianjin, she works in our side, and is expected to get married next year. I'm going to go to their home for the New Year this year. Discuss

Marriage form: Dingxi folk marriage from ancient times by the traditional feudal rituals have a deep impact, generally for the arranged sale of marriage, men are allowed to concubines, women are not allowed to remarry, the former form of marriage is more (nowadays has been basically extinct), the main are:

Child-raised marriage: that is, the "child brides", or "small cited daughter-in-law", mostly for the poor and unable to raise the family, the family is not able to raise, the family is not able to raise the family. The woman went to the man's home its status is low, basically "the chicken called the first time to get up, sweeping the yard water all day busy", only until the adult formally married, its status will change.

Small son-in-law marriage: the male family is rich and lack of labor, they will be entrusted to the poor family sixteen, seven years old or so girl married to the son is still small as a wife, called small son-in-law pro. Most of these marriages have resulted in tragedies.

Finger-bellied marriage: mostly for the two families get along well, the wife is pregnant at the same time, agreed to give birth to a man and a woman, after the adults, these two people will be married.

Cousin marriage: in order to make the continuation of the blood relationship, aunt and cousin brother and sister or sister and brother by the parents to marry. Although there is a folk custom, but mostly denied, because the marriage of close relatives is not conducive to future generations.

Changing the head of the marriage: also known as the exchange of marriage. Because of the male family poverty or one party has some kind of physical defects, the two sides agreed to mutual daughter betrothal, known as the "head for pro". This custom still occurs today.

Into the marriage: commonly known as "inverted door", "into the door pro", "son-in-law", or "recruiting relatives ". In the old days, door-to-door son-in-laws were often scorned, and now son-in-laws are regarded as honorable and protected by law. Traditionally, the eldest son, generally with the mother's name, in order to "top of the family", other children with the father's name, but also with the mother's name or the father's name.

The transfer of the room marriage: the death of a man and a woman after marriage, the deceased brother or brother, sister or sister to continue their marriage, called the transfer of the room pro. This common people do not think strange, and even praise.

The wedding: also called panic marriage. After the engagement, the man's parents or his own disease in the body, it is ahead of schedule to finish the marriage, to "punch", to be healthy.

Recruitment of husbands to support their husbands: after marriage, the husband is seriously ill or disabled, paralyzed, the couple agreed to allow the wife to recruit husbands to make ends meet. This custom is now extinct.

Looking at the door marriage: fiancé died before marriage, according to the feudal rituals, the woman from one to the end, and then hold the rooster to marry, known as looking at the door marriage. This custom has long been unpopular, now extinct.

Underworld marriage: also known as the "yin marriage". After the wedding, before the marriage of the two men and women died, the two families agreed to be buried together, as the "netherworld" couples.

Marriage: In the old days, men and women married to follow the "six rites" norms. After the Xinhai Revolution, although the etiquette of the new, but the feudal etiquette is still inherited. After the establishment of the Chinese people's **** and the country, the new marriage system was established, but the complete elimination of the old-style etiquette is still waiting for time. Dingxi people used to routine wedding procedures, due to the different regions, although there are differences, and basically the same.

Marriage age: the old Han marriage age is generally small, men 15-20 years old, women 15-18 years old, the rich and noble family more early marriage, 12 or 13 years old marriage is not rare. After the implementation of the Marriage Law, the legal age was set at 20 for men and 18 for women, and in 1981 it was changed to 22 for men and 20 for women, and late marriage was advocated, so the custom of early marriage was eliminated. In the old days, the rich family concubines have as many as two or three people, the poor life "bachelor" there, now all extinct.

Ask the relatives: that is, discuss marriage, in the old days, the marriage of men and women listen to the "parents' orders, words of matchmakers," first by friends and relatives, parents choose the door to select the female, after the selection of the right, the male convenience to invite the matchmaker to prepare gifts to go to the woman's home to ask for marriage, to enter the stage of matchmaking. If the woman has not met, men and women to meet each other, or by the matchmaker to take the man to the woman's home to see the woman's side, called "Nacai". The woman agreed, the man asked the matchmaker to the woman's home to ask for the woman's birth date, called "ask the name". Men and women of the eight characters of the birth of the red paper written on the "Gung paste" (some places from the simple, only verbal expression), by Mr. Yin and Yang according to the "five elements gossip, the principle of mutual benefit" projections, known as the "marriage"! ", (also known as" Hop Shaw "). If the marriage smooth together, by the male party to notify the female party, which is called "Naji", such as the original gift is not returned to stop. Then, the man chooses an auspicious date, asks the matchmaker to officially inform the woman of the wedding date, and prepares for the wedding. During this period, the two sides of the home, such as accidents, such as broken dishes and bowls pots and cups, livestock death or family illness, etc., it is considered unlucky and bad, no marriage, the matchmaker to notify the other party to cancel the betrothal.

Engagement: commonly known as "climbing relatives", "drinking". On the day of the betrothal, the father of the man with his son and the matchmaker together, with wine (2 bottles, tied with a red string), bride price, clothing, jewelry, four-color gifts (cakes, sweets, tea) and other bride price (in some places into a box or cage, or peaches or quan), to the woman's home to the betrothal, which is called "Nazhao". The female family to prepare a banquet to entertain guests, and demand bride price, commonly known as "to bride price", men and women and matchmakers by *** with the discussion, and finally determine the bride price. Then men and women at the banquet that is to both elders and friends and relatives to toast, change of address, elders and friends and relatives to the men and women to give "red packets", how much money each according to the economic situation. Afterwards, they eat and drink, and disperse after enjoying themselves. When the man leaves, he should bring back the two empty bottles of wine (with a little wine left inside), and the woman will fill the bottles with a little rice flour, taking the meaning of "rice and flour couple", which is called "betrothal", betrothal. This is called the "betrothal", the betrothal. The marriage relationship is then formally established.

After the betrothal, every year and festivals (Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival), the man should prepare gifts to the woman's home, "send the festival" to show that the marriage is in effect, commonly known as the "chase festival".

Marriage: commonly known as "meet the bride", also known as "lead the new bride". The man asked Mr. Yin and Yang to determine the good time to get married, then the matchmaker told the woman's family, which is called "please period". On the day of the wedding, both men's and women's families organized a banquet to entertain their friends and relatives, and the pattern of the meal depended on the economic situation of the host. Friends and neighbors go to help, commonly known as "on behalf of the work". Wedding date is approaching, the male family to choose an auspicious day with the matchmaker to go to the woman's home to send the bride price, commonly known as "return gift", "send gifts", also known as "Qing Da Li". In some places, there are still together by the male family to send pants fabric, called away from the mother pants. This line of gifts official rich family more elaborate, usually with a gift list, the male family on a regular basis with the bride price to go to the female family, accompanied by a large bun 10, two fresh meat and sweets, such as 12 products, called "box", the female family set up a square table in the courtyard, set up incense on the table, gifts, the female family of the children and nephews on the incense and bowing, sacrifices to the heavens and the earth, called "After the ceremony, the male family gave the incense to the "Xi Mei Qian", and presented the gift list, open the box "bright gift", please relatives and guests to visit; then the female to male guests presented covered dumpling bowls Then the woman presented a bowl of covered dumplings to the guests of the man's family, which was called "tasting soup", and the woman's family hosted a banquet for the guests. This old ritual is now extinct. Finally, the date of the wedding was agreed upon.

To send a woman to get married, called "sent down", "sent". One day before the wedding, the male family to the female family "stable seat" (also known as "talk"), to further implement the number of relatives and related matters. On this day, the woman's family entertains her relatives and neighbors who come to send congratulatory gifts. Neighbors sending gifts are called "add boxes". In the old days, the woman's family gave the bride a pair of crates or a four-cornered cabinet. In the 1980s, the bride was accompanied by a closet, a writing desk, a speaker, a TV, a washing machine, a refrigerator, and so on, and there is no fixed amount of modern furniture. This day to determine the personnel to send the family team, and choose a child and daughter of the whole, the genus of the female family as "bridesmaids", that is, "bridesmaids". The male party to choose the children of both sexes, the genus is not taboo for each man and woman (remarried people can not) for the "lead to welcome the relatives of the nobleman", and another male teenager for the bride to take the donkey, accompanied by the matchmaker, by the groom, the groom's uncles and older brothers each 1 person, back box 1 person, composed of the welcoming team, (to go to an odd number of 5 or 7 people, to take the meaning of going to the single to the double,) with the Gifts, although there are differences, basically two bottles of wine, two bottles of meat, sweets and snacks, 10 large steamed buns, "needle work money" (some places called "thank you", "away from the mother of the money, "color door money") and pocket money (commonly known as "play laughing money") a number of red envelopes, they went to the woman's home to meet the bride. In some places, the mother's family closed the door, to marry the bride to ask for red packets of money, splashing water to hide things, make fun of. In the past to meet the bride, both men and women depending on the road, prepare sedan chair or car or donkey, horse (avoid mules), now more towns and cities with cars, rural areas with tricycles, due to different economic conditions, the gap is getting bigger and bigger, pay attention to the higher grade, the more cars, the more the wind of comparison is flourishing.

The bridegrooming team to the woman's home, the first incense to worship the ancestors, and then the gifts will be displayed on the table, to the female elders, "look at the cup children" toast to the "thank you" money to pay thanks to the woman to raise women's grace. Immediately after welcoming the bride on the feast, after the feast ready to go. In the old days, by the bridegroom for the bride to comb on the head (that is, the bride's hair braid combed into a bun), the bride wearing a corset, the head of the head cover, the chest in front of the "heart mirror", carrying a "hanging scroll book" (Geng stickers). This custom has been abolished. The female party to choose the relatives of the people will be accompanied by dowry in the box, commonly known as the "box", "dowry", there is a dowry qua dowry meaning.

When the bride left home, traditionally held by the older brother of the family sedan chair (horse, donkey) on the bride to cry, known as "crying marriage", (also known as "catching the brake"). Expressing intolerance of leaving parents; the bride will be out of the door will be a red chopsticks thrown in the door (some places will be two red chopsticks were thrown inside and outside of the door), the two families to welcome relatives *** Denjiao, car and horseback riding. Sedan chair (horse, donkey) on the road, where by the fork in the road, temples, big rocks and big buildings, the old days to stick a small strip of red paper or written on it "all the way to peace", "ghosts and evil spirits to avoid" and so on the "road stickers ", for good luck. Now more vehicles, this custom is not seen.

Sedan chair to the front door of the male family, to the day of the God of joy in the direction of the sedan chair, followed by firecrackers around the sedan chair. Bride Pro dismounted (bridge, car), some places to first pick up the "bottle", filled with flour and rice, insert a pair of red chopsticks, wrapped in red cloth, after the wedding into thin porridge, the new couples *** eat, meaning "peace and security"; chopsticks to take "fast! to give birth to a son". This custom has been abolished. The bride's children asked for a red envelope, known as the "sedan chair money". After the bride dismounts, she is assisted by her bridesmaids to walk slowly on the red felt (or red cloth instead) laid on the ground. In the old days, guests were invited to perform the "red ritual", string red felt to the yard set up in front of the incense, incense placed on the case of incense and wax, full of wheat liter (also known as a bucket), inserted in a god, a scale, hanging on the scale mirrors, rulers, scissors and red cloth strips to ward off evil spirits and other things, the red line on each end of the tie copper coins put in the two cups of wine, to hold a ceremony to pay homage to the Church, commonly known as the "worship of heaven and earth". "worship of heaven and earth" (now held in the hall), in turn, worship of heaven and earth, worship of parents, newcomers to worship, eat "heart rice", "drink the cup of wine", the fm radio (this custom has been mostly simplified). (this custom is now mostly simplified). Then the bride and groom step on the red felt, hold the same wheat bucket (commonly known as "full bucket") into the bridal chamber, place the wheat bucket on the kang in the direction of the God of Happiness, the bride will be placed in the bucket to protect the heart of the mirror, the face of the bucket and sit down, the bridegroom with a weighing rod (or rolling pin) to pick off the bride's "head". Has been abolished. At this time, the male family hosted a banquet to entertain the female family to send the bride (honored guests), on the smoke to the sprinkles. The welcome team often have suona playing festive music, drums and music between the feast, very lively. The bridegroom must leave the man's home before noon. In some places, the male family to send the bride with money to redeem the dowry box (cabinet) on the key. Before leaving, the male family in front of the gate to stop the door wine table, put wine and small flower buns, with a large cup of wine, the male family one by one to send the bridegroom a guessing toast, the loser drink, and let the honored guests to take a small flower buns several. The bridegroom should go to the new room to see the bride before leaving the door to say goodbye. Where the whole day to congratulate the people, the bride and groom during the toast one by one. Young people in the bridal chamber, commonly known as "sacrifice room", "haunted the new room", to the newlyweds out of the problem for play, push, pull, hold, touch, new tricks, the bride try to avoid, deal with, and make trouble until the end of the night square. Then, the new house will be warming the bed, called "round room", the host will be walnuts, jujubes while sweeping the bed to the kang side of the scattering, meaning "and (nuclear) gas" early birth of a son, "the meaning, and chanting" Double walnuts and double jujubes will raise a baby running all over the yard". Then the newlyweds went to bed, the new room, "bright lights" all night long. There are good young people in the window to eavesdrop on the newlyweds, commonly known as "listening to the wall root". Some of the bride on the day or the next day to do the kitchen "test hand face" (test knife face), in order to entertain friends and relatives. The next day, the groom's family must prepare another banquet to entertain the wedding to help friends and neighbors, known as the "pull back seat", also known as "thank you guest".

First marriage: the morning of the next day after the wedding, the newlyweds get up early, worship ancestors, parents and relatives to see the elders, which is the bride and family members of the formal meeting of the occasion. There are also in the next day, the female family members with food and food to the male family to congratulate the male family also invited relatives to accompany congratulations, recognize relatives, to determine the relationship between generations, commonly known as "look at the relatives". This custom is now rare. On the third day, the young couple prepared gifts to visit the bride's home, back to pay homage to the parents-in-law and their uncles and nephews, etc., return on the same day, commonly known as "back to the door". This is the first time after the wedding home (back to the bride's home), the woman's family to treat the son-in-law's gift is very good. The newlyweds accepted the hospitality, return early. Ten days after marriage, the bride returned to her mother's home to live, commonly known as "turn to the mother's home", more than eight or nine days to return to the in-laws, but there are also live full ten days. Some places in January after the wedding, the bride to go to the bride's home, commonly known as "station to the month", "turn to the month", but generally return a few days in advance to show respect for the elders of the in-laws.

The above wedding customs, now more have changed, although the rural areas in the continuation of the old customs, but more than abandoned the traditional or simplified, accommodating; urban men and women have new things to do at weddings, change of customs, or collective marriage, or travel to get married, huge bride price, high-grade furniture, fashionable dowry, grand weddings, top banquets, thousands of girls, the so-called new "six gifts! "The wind has flourished in recent years, but is not widely welcomed.

The first day of the first month after the newlyweds, the second day of the first month, by the newlyweds to the woman's home to pay homage to the New Year, known as "kowtow" or "New Year's Day", the parents-in-law to reward the "year money". In some places, the first January 15, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to avoid, not allowed to meet, said "avoidance of light", otherwise, superstition that the mother-in-law to blindness.

Re-marriage: In the old days, men were superior to women, men lost women, can be renewed; female deceased husband, not remarried, said "keep the festival". Therefore, the young women who are widowed for life after the loss of a spouse abound. There is still a husband remarried, the in-laws often ask for gifts very harsh, commonly known as "selling widows". Some were abducted in the middle of the night, called "robbing widows". After the establishment of the People's Republic of China **** and the State, equality between men and women, now more than not abide by this rule, remarriage is protected by law, is now more common, especially the elderly, men and women looking for each other to form a family, "sunset red" has become fashionable.

Funeral

Han form: the old age to send the end of the prudent, both the son of man's vocation, but also the family's major affairs. Funeral, also known as "white". Dingxi funeral has been inherited wooden coffin burial, from the 1970s, national public officials to implement cremation. Its customary specifications, funeral ceremony, generally depending on the family situation and the age of the deceased identity and different.

In the old days, the death of infants born less than a month, will be pounded into the kang hole burned. 2 years of age within the infant death, by the neighbors to the firewood rolled body, Sheng rotten back of the bucket in the secluded ditches and streams in the ignition of the fire and abandonment of the 12 years of age or older, after the death of the lucky place, only to cover up the body in the remote area of the field. 12 years of age or older unmarried people, can do a simple box containing the body buried in the ground in the geographic area or the field of the mountainous terrain. Married men and women who gave birth to children are normal deaths, can be held in the house of the main chamber, the inner chamber of the funeral ceremony, and can be buried in the ancestral graves. Other unnatural deaths such as jumping off a cliff, throwing into a river, falling into a well, taking poison, hanging, miscarriage, suicide, homicide, car accidents, etc., can only be in the mansion into a coffin to do the funeral; died outside the house, only outside the house, kiln, or tents to hold the funeral, and shall not enter the ancestral tombs. Although normal death, but died outside the house, but also not into the house in the main, (inside) bed to organize the funeral ceremony. Therefore, people who are sick and dying should try their best to rush back home and try to get to the right (inner) chamber.

The old man died, Dingxi (much the same everywhere) funeral customs and funeral etiquette, due to the influence of traditional culture, feudal rites and court etiquette, seemingly grand and cumbersome, solemn and dignified, formed a unique local characteristics of the funeral culture.

The weather in Dingxi will not be too cold: but this winter as of now is not very cold, the New Year is definitely cold. Dingxi minimum is -8 degrees hold up.

Marriage is very different from Tianjin, first of all, Dingxi marriage is at noon and Tianjin is in the afternoon. The first thing you need to do is to give the woman a gift of money (from 30,000) and the rest of the customs are basically the same.