The document summarizes the key elements of a Chinese wedding tea ceremony tradition, including symbolic meanings associated with certain words used during the ritual. The ceremony involves serving tea to elders in the bride and groom's families in a specific order of age and seating arrangements, with traditions now being altered from past practices. Rituals during the ceremony like hair pins being placed in the lucky woman's hair and formal addresses to ancestors and aunts continue important cultural aspects of the tradition.

1. Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
Beverly Yang
Thursday, February 19

2. “Double Happiness”

3. Cha 4

4. Tea

5. Homophones
• Seed = child
• Lotus = year
• Date = early

6. Offering Side
• Traditions have been altered
• Seating Arrangements
– Groom on right hand side, bride on left hand side
– Newlyweds kneel
– People being served on chairs
• Serving
– Use both hands
– In order of age
• Lucky woman

7. Receiving Side
• Lucky envelopes
– “Lai See”
– Money or gold
• Jewelry
• Words of advice or wishes

8. Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=ZZWa6BXMzps

9. Serving Tea to Bride’s Grandmother
Kneel
“Helper”

10. Hair Ritual
“Lucky Woman”
Offerings to ancestors

11. Formal Address
Notice jewelry
Formal address aunts

12. Serving tea to Great Grandmother
Serve tea with both hands
Kneel
Eldest first

13. A lot of bling
At the end of the day, her hands and neck were so heavy

14. Thank you!
Questions?