About 400 years ago, thousands upon thousands of Miao soldiers were sent to Hainan Island from mainland China. Today their descendants still reside in this island, and keep their unique tradition and culture quite well. Women like to adorn themselves with their handmade silver necklaces and batik clothing. Single young people start to seek for their lovers when they are only 16-18 years old. The tradition of dating and wedding among this Miao tribe is really funny.
Singing love songs is a good way to get to know each other. Usually the men first go outside, singing loudly. Hearing the songs, girls will come out and join in the singing. Sometimes they sing for a whole day until the evening. If a man finds his lover while singing, he would tell his parents to send a matchmaker to go to the girl's home to propose marriage.
The wedding is always held in lunar November or December when people have freed themselves from their busy farm work. On the wedding day, the groom together with his groomsmen and the matchmaker will go to the bride's home to bring his future wife back. A big colorful umbrella in the wedding is quite conspicuous. It's an important adornment for the wedding, and usually held by the groomsmen.
When they arrive to the gate of the girl's village, the matchmaker puts on a new set of clothes and a special hat. Then they set off firecrackers. Girls who wear beautiful silver necklaces in the village use a piece of rope or a branch to block the way to their village. Until they get some gifts from the matchmaker, they won't let the groom and his team into their village.
Eventually the groom and his team get to the village. The wedding is held at the girl's home in the evening. The matchmaker breaks some chopsticks to show that the new couple will stay together forever regardless anything happening in the future. The couple then swear to be together all their lives by taking a cup of wine.
The wedding lasts until late in the evening.
Crying loudly is an interesting thing happening in the wedding. Before the bride leaves for the groom's home, she will cry to show her reluctance to leave home. Her parents and siblings all cry together with her.
Pinching is another funny thing in Miao weddings. On the way to see the bride, the bride and the groom will be probably attacked by their ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends. The ex and their people run to pinch the bride and groom to show their jealousy or anger.
When the bride gets to the groom's home in the evening, she will send her bridesmaids to go to pinch the groom. And the bride is also pinched by the groomsmen.
Miao culture allows a man to live together with his wife's family after the wedding, if there is no boys in the family.
Hainan Island is one of the wonderful places you can't miss when you travel to China. It's called the Hawaii of Asia. Every year numerous tourists around the world come to this island to enjoy its beautiful scenery and gorgeous Miao silver necklaces. - 30294
Singing love songs is a good way to get to know each other. Usually the men first go outside, singing loudly. Hearing the songs, girls will come out and join in the singing. Sometimes they sing for a whole day until the evening. If a man finds his lover while singing, he would tell his parents to send a matchmaker to go to the girl's home to propose marriage.
The wedding is always held in lunar November or December when people have freed themselves from their busy farm work. On the wedding day, the groom together with his groomsmen and the matchmaker will go to the bride's home to bring his future wife back. A big colorful umbrella in the wedding is quite conspicuous. It's an important adornment for the wedding, and usually held by the groomsmen.
When they arrive to the gate of the girl's village, the matchmaker puts on a new set of clothes and a special hat. Then they set off firecrackers. Girls who wear beautiful silver necklaces in the village use a piece of rope or a branch to block the way to their village. Until they get some gifts from the matchmaker, they won't let the groom and his team into their village.
Eventually the groom and his team get to the village. The wedding is held at the girl's home in the evening. The matchmaker breaks some chopsticks to show that the new couple will stay together forever regardless anything happening in the future. The couple then swear to be together all their lives by taking a cup of wine.
The wedding lasts until late in the evening.
Crying loudly is an interesting thing happening in the wedding. Before the bride leaves for the groom's home, she will cry to show her reluctance to leave home. Her parents and siblings all cry together with her.
Pinching is another funny thing in Miao weddings. On the way to see the bride, the bride and the groom will be probably attacked by their ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends. The ex and their people run to pinch the bride and groom to show their jealousy or anger.
When the bride gets to the groom's home in the evening, she will send her bridesmaids to go to pinch the groom. And the bride is also pinched by the groomsmen.
Miao culture allows a man to live together with his wife's family after the wedding, if there is no boys in the family.
Hainan Island is one of the wonderful places you can't miss when you travel to China. It's called the Hawaii of Asia. Every year numerous tourists around the world come to this island to enjoy its beautiful scenery and gorgeous Miao silver necklaces. - 30294
About the Author:
C. Liu writes about Chinese arts and crafts, including Miao silver necklaces, professionally. She prefers the handmade silver necklaces with flowers. Don't miss her website with fantastic examples of Miao silver necklaces here.
