Traditional wedding preparation customs - making the bed and pressing the bed

Bed-making is a custom in which the bride's family arranges a new house for the couple after escorting the dowry to the groom's family. It is actually a bed-laying ceremony performed before the wedding, and contains the best wishes for the bride and groom to start a family and have a child soon.

The key to making a bed is the bed and bedding.

The placement of the marriage bed is an extremely important matter, related to good health, family harmony and the prosperity of children and grandchildren.

Before making a bed, a fastidious family would burn incense and worship the gods, that is, bed god and bed mother. It is said that bed god likes tea and bed mother is fond of wine, so tea and wine are necessary items when worshiping the bed god.

After the worship is completed, the marriage bed is placed according to the requirements of the location.

The position of the newlywed bed tent in the new house is very particular. The bride's family will usually ask a fortune teller to choose a date and time when making the bed, and place the wedding bed in the correct position in the newlyweds' wedding room on an auspicious day.

The bedding of the marriage bed is sewn by "Mrs. Quanfu" who is both married and has children. Pregnant women and widows are taboo to participate.

Bedding was originally about comfort, but this time it was different. Dried fruits such as dates, peanuts, chestnuts, and walnuts had to be put into the quilt cover. However, one end of the quilt must be open and not sewed. According to custom, it was reserved for children.

"Mrs. Quanfu" had to sing bed-making songs while making the bed. For example, "Bedding by the corner of the quilt, I would hold the baby; I would be pressed by the quilt on one side, so I could raise a son who would be an official, and I would give him a handful of chestnuts."

Zao, the younger one will run after the older one. "Made the bed, the house will be filled with gold and jade, and the baby will be born early, so that he can have a son." The so-called bed pressing means that after the wedding bed is set up, it cannot be left empty, nor can the groom be left alone.

To sleep alone in a new bed, you must find the right person to share your life with the groom.

Generally, they look for unmarried boys who are healthy, lively, smart and handsome.

This is because traditional customs believe that healthy boys are auspicious and can ensure a happy life for the couple after marriage, and can also help the bride get pregnant and give birth to a boy as soon as possible.

It is best to be a junior of the groom, such as a nephew or nephew.

Some people who are more particular also think that the zodiac sign of the bed-pressing boy should be dragon or snake, or the same zodiac sign as the bride.

When they get up in the morning, the boy who is lying in bed asks for jujube soup. He drinks the jujube soup with chopsticks instead of a spoon, in order to have a "morning child" or "fast child". There is a popular saying among the people: "Wetting half of the bed is auspicious; wetting all the bed is good luck."

More prosperity." If the bed-pressing boy wets the marriage bed, not only will he not be blamed, but it is also a good sign of prosperity and good luck.

The main participants in the bed-pressing activity vary from place to place. In addition to children pressing the bed, some places allow the groom's unmarried younger brother to accompany the bed-pressing, which is called "brother-in-law presses the bed, and the children come together."

The bridegroom's father accompanies the bride and groom, calling it "the father-in-law presses the bride's bed with a large group of children."

The bed pressing time is usually on the first day of the wedding, but in some areas the cycle is longer and the bed pressing begins a week before the wedding.