🇨🇳 China · wedding
中式婚礼茶礼 — 新人在成婚前如何向长辈表达敬意
新人跪奉香茶,长辈回以红包,而每一位宾客都在这一刻举起手机。
传统中式婚礼围绕着三个家庭的结合而展开:新郎家、新娘家,以及两人将组建的新家庭。在所有仪式中,最能吸引全场镜头的,是**敬茶**——新人跪在长辈面前,用红金双杯奉茶,长辈则以**红包**作为回礼。
一天的顺序
如今的中式婚礼——无论在北京、香港、新加坡、旧金山还是悉尼——通常一天分为两段。上午在新郎家或新娘家进行茶礼,晚上在酒店举行宴会。新娘上午通常身着绣有龙凤的红色旗袍或裙褂;晚上换上白色西式婚纱;宴会结束前还会再换一套晚礼服。摄影师和宾客一整天都在追踪她的服装变化。
敬茶仪式的细节
新人面向长辈,长辈端坐。茶被倒入特制的红色双杯,双手奉上。顺序极为讲究:先敬新郎的父母,然后是祖父母,再依辈分敬叔伯姑姨,新娘一方亦然。长辈喝一口茶,送上一句祝福——通常是简短押韵的吉祥话——然后将杯子归还,并附上红包。
仪式本身很私密,却又很公开。许多现代家庭会指定一位表亲专门保管二维码,这样未能参加早上茶礼的宾客也能在晚宴时上传到同一个相册。([Galeira](/) 正是为此而生——同一个二维码可以贯穿一天两段几乎完全不同的宾客名单。)
宾客都在拍什么
- 长辈祝福时的表情——常常比新人更动人 - 红包交换的瞬间(礼节:不要当场拆开) - 新娘卸下凤冠前的细节特写 - 第一口茶——经典的中式婚礼镜头
晚宴
晚宴通常八到十二道菜,几乎必上烧乳猪(象征贞洁)、整条鱼(寓意"年年有余")、长寿面。新人会一桌一桌敬酒——三十桌的婚礼意味着九十分钟内要拍三十张合影。这正是宾客上传照片最有价值的时刻:新人无法同时出现在每一桌的每一张照片里。
资料来源
- 维基百科:[中式婚礼](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5%BC%8F%E5%A9%9A%E7%A4%BC)、[敬茶](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%95%AC%E8%8C%B6) - 香港文化博物馆:《婚嫁礼俗》在线展览 - 新加坡国家文物局:《峇峇娘惹与中式婚礼传统》
Frequently asked
How long does a Chinese wedding tea ceremony last?
Usually 20-40 minutes, depending on how many elders are present. Each elder is served two-handed in seniority order; large families with grandparents on both sides take longer.
What goes inside the red envelope (hóngbāo) at a tea ceremony?
Cash, traditionally in even-numbered amounts that are also auspicious (e.g. 888 RMB). Gold jewellery is also common from the bride's mother-in-law.
Do guests attend the Chinese tea ceremony?
Traditionally only immediate family. Modern weddings sometimes invite a wider circle, but it stays intimate — the banquet in the evening is where everyone comes.
What does the bride wear for the tea ceremony?
A traditional red qípáo or qún kuà embroidered with gold dragons and phoenixes. She changes into a white Western gown for the evening, then often a third coloured dress before the banquet ends.
Other cultures in the series
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