Marriage custom in Maanshan

Men are old, and women are old. In the old society, men and women usually got married at the age of 18 or above. Choose two dates for the wedding for good luck. After the wedding date is set, the woman buys a dowry, which is called "dowry"; Gifts from relatives and friends are called "adding boxes". The man built a new house, made furniture, made a new bed and held a party.

On the morning of the wedding, the sedan chair was issued, and a rooster was put on the pole of the sedan chair, which was a four-color gift. When she came back, the woman named a hen "Chicken with a sedan chair", which showed that both of them were right. When she comes back, she won't go the same way and set off firecrackers all the way. It is usually the bride's uncle, brother and uncle who see her off. Those who see her off are called "guests" and "big guests". The western suburbs returned to the man's house, and the bride and groom were supported by guests. Both of them worshipped the ancestors of heaven and earth first, then their parents, and finally the bride and groom. After the worship, the family sent sacks to the ground for the last time, which was called "Dai", paving the way for the bride to enter the bridal chamber. In addition, the cashier picked up the laundry basket containing grains, dates and copper coins, sang the song of cashier's check, and sprinkled the contents of the basket on the heads of the bride and groom until they entered the bridal chamber. Then lift the bride's veil with weighed peaches to show her satisfaction.

After the ceremony, the bride stood on the edge of the bed and "dressed up", and then the trouble began. Sing noisy songs when you are noisy. The lyrics are "Look at the bride and He Xinlang, as soon as they enter the bridal chamber, the son is born with his left foot and the phoenix is born with his right foot"; "Light a candle, see the bride's dowry, high cabinets and low boxes, ivory beds that are neither high nor short, and mandarin ducks, mandarin ducks in pairs, and phoenixes in pairs." The new house is full of joy and humor. There is also the custom of "listening to the room" at night. On the first day after marriage, the bride and groom greet their elders in turn and pay homage to their ancestors. In three days, both husband and wife went back to their parents' homes and came back the same day. Six days, the bride's family came to visit her, and twelve days later, the bride was taken back. This is called "returning to the door".