3.1- Betrothal - Proceduce

Past

Betrothal is a complicated procedure which consists of several steps. The steps are called “three letters and six etiquettes”. Firstly, the grooms’ families hire matchmaker to communicate with the proposed brides’ families to ask whether they are interested in the proposal. After receiving the acceptance of brides’ families, the grooms’ families have betrothal negotiation with the brides’ families on the bridal price and gifts. The matchmaker played an important role in the negotiation since two families did not have direct contact. The matchmaker helps the grooms’ families to as for the 'Eight Letters' of brides. Among the 22 letters, ten are known as 'Tian Gan' and twelve are 'Di Zhi'. Year, month, day and time are represented by 2 letters. Finally, the bride's birth date would be represented by 8 letters. Then, a guy is hired to see if the proposed grooms and brides match or not. Then, the grooms’ families send an initial gift with a gift letter to the brides’ families. Next, the grooms’ families send the betrothal gifts to the brides’ families and they choose the wedding date. Also, they worship the ancestral to confirm the deal. Afterward, a guy is hired to choose a good date according to the bride and groom's and their family's birthdates for holding the wedding. The brides’ and grooms’ families send invitation cards to their relatives, neighbours, colleagues and friends. The people who receive invitation cards have to give money or gifts as congratulation.  

Now

Two families hold a meeting, normally in restaurants to negotiate the betrothal price and gifts. Some families hire a guy to choose the good date for holding wedding while some couples choose the date which they want. Then, the grooms’ families send betrothal gifts to the brides’ families. The brides’ and grooms’ families send invitation cards to their relatives, neighbours, colleagues and friends. The people who receive invitation cards have to give money or gifts as congratulation.