Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional stories - Do Chinese weddings need groomsmen and bridesmaids? What can the best man and bridesmaid do?

Do Chinese weddings need groomsmen and bridesmaids? What can the best man and bridesmaid do?

In ancient China, the traditional wedding of the Han nationality was called "Ten Weddings", which was equivalent to the role of the best man called "Yu". Shi wedding mentioned the role of jade in ancient weddings. In ancient times, Yu was mostly the groom's waiter, younger brother or younger generation than the groom. Up to now, the requirements of age and qualifications continue. We can only be the best man for our brother or boss, and we must be younger than the groom.

The origin of the best man. In ancient China, the traditional wedding of the Han nationality was called "Ten Weddings", which was equivalent to the role of the best man called "Yu". Shi wedding mentioned the role of jade in ancient weddings. In ancient times, Yu was mostly the groom's waiter, younger brother or younger generation than the groom. Up to now, the requirements of age and qualifications continue. We can only be the best man for our brother or boss, and we must be younger than the groom. Westerners' customs come from ancient Rome. In order to avoid the jealousy of the devil or the enemy and hurt the new couple, the scene of the best man posing as the groom appeared, which confused people. Therefore, the best man in the west is close to or the same as the groom in clothes, but different in details.

According to ancient law, the best man has seven things to do at the wedding, five of which are after the wedding.

During the wedding:

1. The newlyweds water and wash their hair (the groom is watered and washed by the bridesmaid) during the ceremony, which is equivalent to dressing up. Of course, this matter has been handed over to the bride's sister or a special makeup artist now, but it was the best man's job at that time.

Set a seat for the bride opposite the groom, and the bridesmaids need to set a seat for the groom. Similar to the layout of the site.

3. Grab the bride's dress. This matter is now handed over to the bridesmaid, but catching the groom's clothes is back on our agenda.

4. Put a sleeping mat on the bride in the southwest corner of the room, which is equivalent to today's bridal chamber.

5. Withdraw the candles with the bridesmaid and eat the food left by the bride in the prison ceremony. Prison is a ritual. Prison is a sacrifice, that is, animals, pigs, cows and sheep. Prison means that husband and wife eat the same animal, which means that they make a contract in front of the gods and become one from now on. This kind of food can't be wasted, so the best man and bridesmaid need to finish the remaining couple before they can complete the ceremony. After all, it is a terrible workload for a couple to eat a whole roast suckling pig in front of everyone.

After the wedding:

6. Serve the bride to sacrifice beans, millet and lungs, and lift lung spines. When the bride marries her husband's family, she should also pray for blessings, good weather and clean livestock. As an assistant, the best man still had to be a semi-etiquette officer at that time. Now this work has been omitted.

7. Eat the leftovers the bride took from the room. Still eat, it makes sense to say "eating is a blessing" in Cantonese. As the best man, you must have a good appetite in the past, otherwise you really can't handle so many eating links and can't afford this blessing.