Marriage During the Republic of China, most marriages in this county followed the feudal marriage system. Men and women got married based on the orders of their parents and the words of the matchmaker. The resulting marriage tragedies were countless. The marriage process in the old days was as follows:
Betrothal: When the man and woman grow up, their parents make the decision, and a central matchmaker negotiates an agreement. If the parents of both parties approve or reach a tacit understanding, a preliminary engagement can be made. There are also those who use the fingertips for marriage or engagement.
The gift: commonly known as "na bazi" or "combined eight characters", that is, writing the date and month of the man's and woman's birthday on straw paper or red paper as a gift to the other party. The words "Su Cai Guo Fu, Ji Zi Peng Nian" (Su Dongpo's talent and learning, Guo Ziyi's blessings, Ji Zi's many children, Peng Zu's longevity) are written on the inside. After the fortune teller's divination, the "rite" was determined. Generally, the woman is given four pairs of fabrics and other "tea and food". The amount of gifts depends on the family's economic status, with the rich giving more and the poor giving less. In the mountainous area in the northern part of the county, a man must bring a rooster with him when making a ceremony.
An ultimatum: determine the wedding date of both parties. The papyrus "eight characters" of both men and women are replaced by the red paper "eight characters". When giving an ultimatum, the groom's family still has to send cloths and cakes. Wealthy households prepare "three animal gifts" of hoof meat, pork ribs (pork ribs), and roosters, accompanied by drums and music, and the girl's family sets off firecrackers to welcome them. If there is any objection, the woman may postpone the wedding or take the opportunity to ask for money or goods until the matchmaker comes forward to reconcile. According to the old custom in this county, wedding dates are often set on "double days", usually on the sixth day of the lunar calendar (meaning good fortune, wealth, and longevity) or on the second day (meaning to be in pairs).
Marriage: On the wedding day, both parties treat guests and receive gifts. Especially when the children of wealthy families get married, the house is filled with friends and guests. The wedding day is called the "main period", the day before yesterday is the "warming house", and the next day is the "returning date".
On the day of "Housewarming", the man must "bring tea" (one pair of teapots and 10 teacups, which means "perfect"), and the woman must also "bring back tea" in the same quantity. On the "prime period", the man sends a sedan, and the sedan is accompanied by two "supporting wives" whose husbands are still alive and full of children and grandchildren, and drums and music are played on the road. After arriving at the woman's house, she was entertained with a banquet. In the evening, the bride, dressed in red (red coat, red trousers, red hijab), takes a colorful sedan to the groom's house. When the sedan arrives, sheng, drums and music rise and fall, and the gate of the groom's house is tightly closed, which is called "suppression". . After the bride and groom meet, they have to go into the new house and "sit on the bed" (sitting on the edge of the bed together, the man drinks sugar water, and the woman only touches her lips). When "worshiping the hall", first worship the heaven and earth, then worship the high hall (parents), then the husband and wife worship each other, and then "make a new house". On the day of their return, the couple returned to the woman's natal home together with gifts.
In addition, there are other wedding customs in this county. In the southern region, when an elderly person dies, his granddaughter-in-law is brought back to marry him. It is called "red and white" weddings being held together, commonly known as "one net pocket". In some poverty-stricken areas, when poor children cannot afford to get married, they negotiate good terms and exchange their sisters as wives, which is called "marriage exchange". There are also cases where three families exchange marriages. In the old society, there was a bad custom of "bringing happiness" in Lai'an: when a man was sick in bed, he would marry the woman in advance through a matchmaker for the sake of good luck, which was called "bringing happiness". After the man died, the woman was forced to remain a widow.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Marriage Law was implemented, abolishing marriage by purchase and sale, and stipulating the autonomy of marriage. Marriage procedures have been simplified, and free love has generally increased. The wedding date is also always chosen on "May 1st", "July 1st", "October 1st" or "New Year's Day". In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a strong trend in the county (especially in rural areas) of requiring betrothal gifts, extravagance, and ostentation for marriages. Relevant departments actively promoted education and advocated diligence and frugality in weddings. Some young people got married while traveling or participated in grand and frugal groups. wedding.
The bad habit of "cheating" that was popular before liberation was abolished after the founding of the People's Republic of China. "Exchange" marriages are rare.