Chinese Marriage Customs

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Both marriage and death are consequential milestones in the lives of the majority of people in many contrasting cultures. In order to convey and often celebrate the significance of such events, ceremonies are held to memorialize both occasions. Every culture preserves their own unique customs to mark these important events. For this question I will provide a summary of the ceremonies and traditions that two very different cultures use to celebrate these occasions.

Chinese marriage customs
Within Chinese culture the arrangement of the marriage is under the control of the parents. It is a common occurrence for the parents to converse with an astrologer to help come to a conclusion of weather they are a viable match or not. However, in the modern …show more content…
As Hindu is the prime religion we will focus on this. Hindu weddings are traditional affairs and the parents are usually left in control of the arrangements. In the olden days the parents picked who their children were to marry without their approval or knowledge. However, in more recent times children are more engaged in the process, their choice of candidate is considered and they must at least be 14 years of age. During an engagement ceremony there are prayers to the gods and the husband and wife to be exchange gifts of garlands. The presentation of gifts to the bride from the groom’s parents is an act of acceptance into the family. The bride wears a wedding gown decorated with jewels and neatly embroidered with gold and silver, this is known as a “sari”. Each region of India has their own uniquely recognised coloured sari. Western brides wear green saris, Eastern brides wear red and white saris, Northern brides wear red saris, and Southern brides wear yellow saris. A ritual known as “Mehndi” is practiced by the bride for the preparation of the wedding. This ritual includes designs being painted on the bride’s hands and feet. This ritual is performed by relatives and friends of the bride the day before the …show more content…
For this question I will focus on the death rituals of the Hindu religion. Antyeshti is a ceremony that celebrates the end of life. It is during this ceremony that the relatives of the deceased wish for the deceased’s soul to travel peacefully to the next world. The corpse is cleansed and dressed in white clothes. The body is placed on a wooden platform called a bier. The body that is wrapped in a white cloth and is carried to a site near water for cremation. Historically Hindu cremations were held on the river Ganges in India. Once again the body is bathed and hair and nails are trimmed. Before cremation in order to scare off evil spirits friends and family chant aloud. After sprinkling water on the corpse the eldest son of the deceased lights the fire.
Following completion of the cremation, mourners cleanse themselves in the nearby river, this is done in hope of purifying themselves. It is a rule that they must touch fire, water, oil and stone before entering their homes. The family will then congregate together for a meal. Usually the house is purified with incense by the local priest. For up to twelve days after the cremation it is a tradition for the mourners to be considered contaminated and are therefore unable to cook meals for themselves. Neighbours and associates are left in control of cooking for this period of
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