The custom of using tea in weddings has been around since ancient times. It can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. According to historical records, when Princess Wencheng married in Tibet, tea first entered Tibet as a dowry. Lu You of the Song Dynasty recorded in "Notes of Laoxue'an" that unmarried men and women from ethnic minorities in western Hunan often get together to sing antiphons. When they meet the person they like, the young men will usually send out an implicit invitation: "Little lady, Ye Dihua, nothing happens." Come out and have some tea." The reason why tea is favored by married men and women is that the tea tree is an evergreen tree and is an unchangeable thing. As Lang Ying of the Ming Dynasty said: "Tea seeds cannot be transplanted, and transplantation will not revive. Therefore, women are employed , it is called drinking tea. And those who use tea as a wedding gift can see the meaning of unity. "Taking tea as a wedding gift symbolizes people's yearning and good wishes for a happy marriage. Nowadays, young men and women in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and other regions still cannot do without tea for engagement, betrothal, wedding banquets, etc., which are called engagement tea, engagement tea, bride tea, passing tea, etc.

23. Tea rules for unmarried girls

Popular in rural areas of Fujian. When an unmarried girl goes out as a guest, she cannot drink tea from other people casually. If she does, it means that she agrees to be the wife of this family. This custom has been around for a long time. The locals believe that the tea tree is immortal and tea must be used as a token when getting married. Therefore, unmarried women are not allowed to drink tea from other people's houses.

24. Three Teas

An old Han wedding custom. It is popular in Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, that is, "tea" when getting engaged, "fixed tea" when getting married, and "hehe tea" when having sex. This custom is no longer common, but it is still practiced in some areas. In Hunan area, it refers to the tea brewed three times before marriage proposal, blind date and entering the bridal chamber. The matchmaker comes to propose marriage and makes sugar and tea with good words. When a man comes to make a blind date, the girl delivers a cup of tea. She puts valuables or money in the cup and returns it to the woman. The girl accepts it as a promise. Before entering the bridal chamber, , soak red dates, peanuts, longan, etc. into tea, and mix it with rock sugar to serve guests, which means that you will have a baby early and jump through the dragon gate.

25. Food and tea

Also known as "go-between". In the old days, Han marriage customs were popular in western Zhejiang. The matchmaker was entrusted by the man to propose marriage to the woman. If the woman agreed, he would make tea and boil eggs for the reception, which is commonly known as "eating tea". Dried longan can be used to make tea, or three eggs can be soaked in water and mixed with sugar. The local name is: "Yuanyan Tea" and "Chicken Tea".

26. Tea gift

Also known as "tea" and "betrothal gift tea". Betrothal gift. Taking tea as a gift takes the meaning of "unchangeable" tea species, implying that they will grow old together. Xu Cishu of the Ming Dynasty wrote in his "Tea Book": "Tea does not move the roots, but the seeds will be born. When ancient people got married, they would use tea as a gift, which means that it does not transplant the seeds. Today, people still call the ritual of tea." The custom began in the Song Dynasty at the latest and continued into modern times. .

27. Five Mongolian Engagement Gifts

When the Mongolian people get engaged, the man must give five gifts to the woman: the first is a bucket of milk wine sent by the matchmaker; In the second stage, three men presented five pots of milk wine; in the third stage, the women from the groom's family went to the bride's house to pay New Year greetings. The gifts were steamed buns and handkerchiefs, with tea leaves, candies and raisins wrapped in the handkerchiefs; and in the fourth stage, a bag of tea leaves , a white hada and a belt; the fifth course is brick tea, candy and wine. The locals believe that tea symbolizes a happy and harmonious marriage.

28. The Salar people use tea to get engaged

This custom is popular in the Salar people’s residential areas in Inner Mongolia and Liaoning. When a young man and woman fall in love or the man's parents like a girl, the parents will ask a matchmaker to go to the girl's house to arrange marriage. If they agree, the man will choose an auspicious day and the matchmaker will go to the girl's house to deliver "engagement tea". Engagement tea mainly includes brick tea and other gifts. If the woman accepts "engagement tea", it indicates that the marriage relationship is finalized.

29. Total tea

A wedding gift of the Dongxiang people. Popular in Gansu Dongxiang Autonomous County and Guanghe, Hezheng and other areas. When getting engaged, the man will give a betrothal gift to a certain household in the woman's "in-law family", which means that he has given a gift to each member of the woman's family. This betrothal gift is called the total tea. The next time the marriage is discussed, another family will accept the gift on their behalf, that is, each family will take turns receiving tea from the chief to express their promise of marriage.

30. Bringing tea

Also known as "Qianli". Baoan people’s wedding gifts. Popular in Jishishan Baoan Dongxiang Salar Autonomous County of Gansu Province. When getting engaged, the gifts given by the man to the woman are usually tea, hence the name tea. The woman who accepted the offer of tea could no longer marry or fall in love with anyone else.

31. Eat hi tea

Also known as "Xia Ding tea". Hui wedding customs.

The man prepares gifts such as leg of lamb, beef, clothing materials, Fuzhuan tea, rice cakes, etc. to show that he has no worries about food and clothing. The woman returns gifts such as white hats, cloth shoes, and handkerchiefs sewn by the girl's own hands to show her concern for her fiancé. On the day of the ceremony, both men and women prepare refreshments to entertain their relatives. In some cases, after the woman agrees, the matchmaker will deliver Fu brick tea, clothing materials and red and green headbands from the man's family to the woman's family on an auspicious day, indicating that she is engaged.

32. Send tea bags

The wedding custom of ethnic minorities. It is popular in areas inhabited by the Hui, Dongxiang, and Baoan ethnic groups in northwest China. The man first invites a matchmaker to go to the woman's house to discuss marriage. If the woman's parents agree, the man will prepare Fu Brick tea, Maojian tea, Tuocha tea, etc., and the matchmaker will deliver them to the woman's house, which is called "tea bag delivery". After that, both men and women can learn about each other's character through relatives and friends in order to determine whether to enter into a marriage contract.

33. The Dong people sit down to make oil tea at night.

It is a wedding custom of the Dong people. In the Sanjiang area of ??Guangxi, it is popular for young men and women of the Dong ethnic group to "sit at night" when they are in love. That is, after the two parties get acquainted, they agree that the young man will go to the girl's house as a guest. In the evening of that day, the young man sings folk songs outside the house. After repeated testing, the girl opens the door and lets him in. . First perform the ritual antiphonal singing, and then enter into the sincere antiphonal singing and conversation. During the antiphonal singing, the girl entertained the young man with oil tea. If the girl does not ask for a break, the man cannot leave, otherwise it will be impolite and disrespectful to the woman. The boy can only leave after the girl repeatedly asks for a break. Sitting at night often lasts until dawn before breaking up. After many activities, if both parties are satisfied, they will officially get married through an open matchmaker.

34. Eat fine tea

Tea is a wedding custom of the Dong people. Young men and women in the Dong area of ??Guizhou decide on an auspicious day after getting in love with each other and obtaining the consent of their parents. The man will bring a bag of sugar and fine tea to the door in person. The girl's parents put the candies on the table, brewed fine tea, and invited the elders, relatives and friends of the villagers to come and eat together, indicating that their daughter was engaged. If someone comes to propose marriage again, the girl's parents will tell her bluntly: "My sister has already eaten fine tea."

35. Offering tea as a token of affection

Popular in Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County, Guangxi Marriage customs. On the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month, young men and women gather together, offer tea, sing songs, and talk about love. The tea used is oil tea. Before drinking tea, women sing questions and men answer questions. The woman offers tea in four ways: the first bowl of tea is put with two pairs of chopsticks on the bowl to test whether the man has a partner; the second bowl of tea is served with a bowl but no chopsticks to test the man's intelligence; the third bowl of tea is placed with one pair of chopsticks on the bowl to test the man's intelligence. Whether you are in love with the woman or not; placing a pair of chopsticks on the fourth bowl of tea means that you are satisfied and both are in pairs. Every time a bowl of tea is offered, the song will be paired. If the song is paired smoothly and the tea is offered frequently, the love will be doubled. Offering tea serves as a medium for love between young men and women of the Dong ethnic group.

36. Honey sesame tea

A wedding customary tea drink of the Lahu people in Yunnan. The Lahu people regard tea as a noble gift, and young people use tea as a gift when getting engaged. When a girl gets married, she makes tea with roasted sesame seeds and honey to entertain guests, which symbolizes the sweetness of her future life.

37. Wa wedding ceremony

Wedding customs of the Wa people in Yunnan. After local young men and women establish a relationship, the man will formally propose to the woman's parents. In advance, the man's family kills chickens to worship the gods, hoping that the gods will bless the marriage smoothly. He then presents tea, plantains, wine and other gifts to the woman, and asks the elders of the woman's family to share them, in order to gain the approval of the marriage from all the clan members.

38. The De'ang people propose with tea

It is popular among the De'ang people in Yunnan to propose with tea, which is called "Deng Yong" in De'ang language. This marriage custom only happens when the girl's parents reject the man's proposal and the girl herself is willing to marry the man. The young man obtained the girl's consent and picked her up at the agreed time and place. The man must quietly hang a bag of dry tea at the door of the girl's house to indicate that the girl is leaving home. Two days later, the man must ask the matchmaker to bring another bag of tea, a bunch of plantains and two salted fish to the girl's house to propose marriage. If the girl's family accepts the gift, it means they agree to the marriage. If the gift is returned, it means they are firmly against it, and the man has no choice but to send the girl back.

39. Bai gift tea

Young people of Bai ethnic group in Yunnan need to give two gifts from engagement to wedding, a small gift when they get engaged and a big gift when they get married. Small gifts include tea, cigarettes, wine, sugar, six-color cloth such as red, blue, black, and purple, and six-color gold and silver jewelry. The big gift includes tea and other water gifts, 20 sets of various clothes, and dowry money.

40. Invite tea to newlyweds

Han wedding customs can be found in various modern cities. In addition to banquets for close relatives and friends of both men and women, weddings are held in a new way. When guests come to congratulate, they only make a cup of tea and serve several kinds of refreshments such as candies and melon seeds, which is economical, lively and cordial.

41. Three courses of tea for newlyweds

Also known as "three courses of tea". Newly married men and women drink after visiting the church: the first is two cups of ginkgo soup, the second is lotus seed and red date soup, and the third is tea soup. The bride and groom took the first cup of tea with both hands and bowed to the shrine to worship the gods; the second cup of tea was given to their parents; and the third cup of tea was drank in one gulp. It is intended to pray to the gods to bless the couple to grow old together, and to express love as a couple, and to thank the parents for their upbringing.

42. Suzhou Springboard Tea

The old Suzhou wedding tea custom. After the new son-in-law and his uncle came in, they sat for a while. The bride's family immediately removed the stools and placed two imperial chairs on the left and right sides against the wall. The new son-in-law and his uncle sat on the front and second seats, and the other two close relatives sat on the third and fourth seats. sit. Then the "tea bearer" held the tea tray and performed "springboard tea" to offer tea to the four guests. Because tea is offered while dancing on a wooden tea tray, it is called springboard tea.

43. Bridal Tea

Wedding customs in Wuyuan, Jiangxi. Before a girl gets married, she must use red silk thread to tie the tender green tea buds into magnificent flowers, called "camellias". After the wedding, the bride uses "camellia" to honor her parents-in-law and entertain the distinguished guests. The guests tasted the fine tea, praised the bride, and wished happiness and harmony to the family after the marriage. Later, the method of using red silk thread to tie tea leaves into famous teas such as "Wuyuan Moju" was derived, integrating drinking, appreciation and skills.

44. Burning new tea

Wedding customs of the Southern Yugu people in Gansu. Before dawn on the second day after young men and women get married, the bride goes to her husband's kitchen for the first time to light the stove, which is commonly known as "making a new fire" and then uses a new pot to boil a new pot of tea, which is called "burning new tea". After the tea is cooked, the groom invites the entire family to introduce the bride's titles one by one according to seniority. The bride scoops a bowl of butter tea for everyone in the family

45. Pickled tea and wine

Han wedding customs tea and food. A banquet for the bride to entertain guests at her wedding. A popular wedding custom in the Daba Mountain area of ??southern Shaanxi. On the wedding night, the bride puts the pickled "dowry vegetables" from her parents' family on a plate and puts them on the table with fine wine. Guests in the bridal chamber sip tea while drinking wine, and the bride and groom must perform performances according to the requirements of the guests in the bridal chamber.

46. Pickled vegetable tea

In the wedding custom of Daba Mountain in southern Shaanxi, in the early morning of the next day after the wedding, the bride puts out the "dowry vegetables" pickled by her family, brews Bashan fragrant tea, and invites the guests to Relatives and friends from both sides tasted it. Singing was used to entertain the guests during the banquet.

47. Send wedding tea and money

Tujia wedding custom. On the morning after the young men and women of the Tujia nationality get married, the bridegroom leads the ceremony, and the bride carries a tea tray and serves tea to relatives, friends, and elders who come to congratulate them. At this time, the elders will give "tea money" to the newlyweds to wish them a lasting marriage.

48. Newlyweds have a cup of tea

Hunan wedding custom tea drink. Newlyweds drink it before entering the bridal chamber. A small tea cup is used for hand-cup tea. The tea is boiled red thick juice and must not be hot or cold. The girl or sister-in-law of the groom's family will serve two cups on a square plate and present them to the bride and groom with both hands. The bride and groom will hold the tea with their right hands, hold each other's wrists, and drink it all in one gulp without spilling the soup. Crossing cups of tea symbolizes the love between a couple and a happy family.

49. Newlyweds drink tea together

It is a wedding custom in southern Yunnan. When young men and women hold a wedding, they must drink a cup of tea together, which is called "a cup of tea". The red tea soup made from Pu'er tea symbolizes happiness and auspiciousness, and indicates that the couple will love each other and grow old together.

50. Carrying tea to newlyweds

Also known as "bringing tea to guests". It is a wedding custom in the Taojiang area of ??Hunan. On the wedding day, the bride and groom will carry the tea to the congratulators. After the guests sit down, the bride and groom will respectfully lift the tea tray with both hands, place one tray on each table and give it to the guests, so it is called "tea carrying". ". When the newlyweds bring tea, the guests who receive the tea must send auspicious words, often with puns, which are called "praising words".

51. Flower Night

Rural wedding customs in central Hunan. On the night before the wedding, the groom's family held a tea banquet and wine banquet to thank all relatives and friends for their care of the child in the past. Generally, a wine banquet is held first and then a tea banquet. During the tea banquet, folk artists are invited to perform flower drum opera and listen to it while eating. Usually it’s clear tea with refreshments, but also made with Leicha.

52. Marrying tea trees

The marriage custom of the Deang people in Yunnan. When getting married, in addition to the clothes for the woman's own use, the woman also needs to plant a few tea trees in the man's family as a dowry. The tea tree must be cultivated by the girl herself, which represents eternal love. In case of divorce, the tea tree will be returned to the bride's family.

53. Brown sugar oil tea

The wedding custom of the Lisu people in Yunnan is tea. When holding a wedding, the bride's family will add brown sugar to the oil tea to prepare "brown sugar oil tea" and offer it to the guests. Before drinking the "brown sugar oil tea", they must first drink a cup of bitter tea to wish the newlyweds share the joys and sorrows. Bitter and then sweet.

54. The Bai people make shed tea

The wedding custom of the Bai people in Yunnan is tea. When young men and women of the Bai ethnic group get married, the man holds a "boob" the night before picking up the bride. That is, he invites relatives and friends to come to his home for a party, drink tea and eat sweets, and at the same time invite people to sing a simple but lively "bench opera" using a bench as a prop. " to express joy. According to the custom of Bai people, they usually drink thunder tea.

55. Tea pounding for newlyweds of the Jingpo people

The wedding custom of the Jingpo people in Yingjiang, Yunnan. At midnight on the wedding day, the bride and groom were pulled by the young people in the village to the stone mortar downstairs. There were tea leaves, eggs, ginger, garlic, etc. in the stone mortar. The young people teased the newlyweds by pounding the stone with a wooden stick and pounding it ten times in a row before stopping. The significance of pounding tea is to express that the newlyweds will live happily together.

56. Tibetan Wedding Tea

A wedding customary tea drink in Tibetan settlements. When the bride comes to her husband's house, it is customary to offer tea to her husband's guests, commonly known as wedding tea. When offering tea, the bride should sing, and the guests should sing along with her. The bride and groom also offer tea to thank the matchmaker. Finally, a "farewell song" with tea as the content is sung.

57. The Yao people serve tea to newlyweds

The etiquette of the Yao people in Guangxi when they get married. When a bride arrives at her husband's house, her bridesmaid holds an umbrella instead of a sedan chair. When the bride-grooming procession arrives at the village where the groom is, the groom will put the boiled tea in a small tea cup on the tea tray. The groom will serve tea to the bride and the bride-to-be relatives one by one, and sing folk songs to pay tribute to each other. Finally, they come to the new house to serve tea, sing songs, set off firecrackers, and then send them to the bridal chamber.

58. Tea ceremony and sifting of shoes in Zhuang Township

Marriage customs in Guangxi Zhuang inhabited areas. When young people of the Zhuang ethnic group get married, the girl's sisters must go to the boy's house to see them off. After the ceremony, the bridegrooms sing a set of "Ten Songs", which ask the men to take care of and educate their sisters. Then the man set up a banquet and held a ceremony of tea toasting and shoe sifting. The man held out a bamboo sieve and came to the woman's sender in turn. The sender put the prepared gift shoes into the bamboo sieve and gave them to the man. Red envelopes are also given to the relatives in turn as a token of thanks. Its meaning is harmony and good fortune between husband and wife. The whole process of shoe screening is lively and interesting with songs instead of talking, asking and answering each other.

59. Newcomer Tea

A wedding customary tea drink in areas where Dong people live in Guizhou. On the wedding day, in the joyful bridal chamber, no matter day or night, candies and tea are placed on the table to entertain congratulatory guests. When guests arrive, they must sing a song or say some auspicious words to heighten the festive atmosphere. The bride and groom fill the cups with fragrant tea, hold up the red lacquer tea tray and bring it to the singing guest. They invite him to drink tea and sweets, treat him to the newlyweds' tea, and say, "Thank you for your kind words."

60. Tajik greeting ceremony tea

Wedding customs in areas where the Tajik people live in Xinjiang. One week after a Tajik young man gets married, the groom, accompanied by his friends, must bring fried naan to greet his parents-in-law, which is called a "greeting ceremony." The father-in-law's family kills chickens and stews meat to entertain the son-in-law and guests. When the son-in-law leaves, the parents-in-law will give him a gift in return, usually a delicate tea bag, ten eggs, and a belt. Tajik people like to drink tea, which is a symbol of wealth. Parents-in-law give tea bags to express their wishes for the prosperity of their son-in-law's family.

61. She Nationality Pagoda Tea

Wedding customs in Songluo area of ??Fu'an, Fujian Province. When the bride passes the door, the man will take four sedan bearers to the bride's house. As soon as she enters the house, the bride's family will stack five large bowls of tea into three layers: one bowl as the bottom, three bowls in the middle, and another bowl on top, shaped like a pagoda. Tea must be served neatly, and tea must be received with certain skills. First, bite the top tea bowl with your teeth, then hold the three middle bowls with the fingers of your right hand, and finally hold the bottom tea bowl with your left hand, and then distribute it to others. The four bearers drank the tea in the bowl at once.

62. Fu’an Bridal Tea

Wedding customs in Fu’an, Fujian. On the second day of the church visit, the bride went to the church to meet her husband's female family members and offer them sugar and tea. Sugar tea is brewed with tea leaves, red dates, winter melon sugar, rock sugar, and fried peanuts, and poured into a small tea cup. The bride's tea is sweet and delicious, symbolizing that the bride will live in harmony with her husband's family and live a sweet life. After drinking the bridal tea, the female family members will give red envelopes to the bride as a meeting gift.

63. Taiwan Wedding Tea Banquet

Taiwanese Wedding Tea Customs.

After the wedding begins, a tea-making area is set up at one end of the auditorium, with one tea cart in the middle and two on each side, connected with flowers. There is a long table in the middle of the auditorium, with refreshments and dishes on it. After the guests have arrived, the newlyweds go to the tea-making area, where the bride performs tea art and the groom serves tea to his parents, witnesses, etc. The ceremony lasts for about an hour, and then the guests are sent off to the sound of music, and the wedding ends.

64. Kneel down for tea

The old wedding custom in Shunde, Guangdong was the etiquette for serving tea when a new daughter-in-law first met her parents-in-law. When the bride comes, the groom first prepares an Eight Immortals table in the hall, with a teapot and two teacups on the table. When the bride enters the main hall, she must kneel down in front of the square table and kowtow three times. Then she kneels behind the table and kowtows three more times. Then she stands up and offers tea to her parents-in-law, one cup each. This etiquette no longer exists.

65. Bridal tea

Wedding tea is a customary tea drink in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau. It is brewed with high-quality tea leaves and red dates are added to the tea to express good luck. When the bride comes to see her parents-in-law for the first time, she must invite her parents-in-law to drink bridal tea. After receiving the tea, the parents-in-law take a sip and exclaim: "It's so sweet, it's so sweet!" and give them a red envelope as a gift. Then, the bride serves tea to pay tribute to other elders, peers and guests one by one according to their seniority. Modern wedding tea customs are becoming increasingly simplified, and tea for the bride is generally held in conjunction with the wedding banquet.

66. Giving a tea banquet

A wedding custom in the hilly areas of western Sichuan in the old days. On the second day of the wedding, the bride takes out candies, melon seeds, tea, etc. brought from her parents' home to entertain the groom's relatives, friends and guests.