Huayao Wedding Customs

Hunan
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Longhui Huayao is a branch of the Yao ethnic group that was omitted from Chinese ethnic historical materials. To date, more than 7,000 Huayao compatriots still inherit the simple and pure customs of their ancestors, and their marriage customs are particularly mysterious and unique. Longhui Huayao have always followed monogamy. The entire marriage process can be divided into engagement, marriage, sending the bride, and returning home. Engagement: Huayao matchmakers are mostly adult and elderly men, called "matchmakers". After the matchmaker introduces the man and the woman, they get to know each other and reach a basic agreement, and then go through the first procedure: engagement. The man's matchmaker brings a colorful rooster and a red oil-paper umbrella to the woman's home. When 200-300 meters away from the woman's home, make a "five-child flying" paper pillar on the roadside to ward off evil spirits. After drinking three rounds of "gate-blocking wine" at the trough gate, the grain drying hall, and the main hall gate, the matchmaker puts a red oil-paper umbrella on the shrine of the woman's family. If the woman agrees to the marriage, 12 silk cloth balls are hung inside the umbrella as a proof of engagement. After several rounds of wine, the matchmaker returns, and the woman's sisters chase him and smear wet mud on him. The more mud is smeared, the more satisfied the woman is with the marriage. Marriage: The groom does not go to pick up the bride, and the matchmaker takes over and leads the bride-picking team to the woman's house to pick up the bride. The bride wears a gorgeous dress with a mirror hanging on her chest. She is accompanied by two unmarried girls to worship the ancestors and heaven and earth before going out to the groom's house. The bride's parents do not go to see the bride off, only relatives and friends see her off, and the journey is very lively. No matter how far or near, you have to wait until the evening after the "Niesha" ceremony is held before you can enter the man's house. The bride and groom do not enter the bridal chamber that night. They are accompanied by relatives and friends from both sides to sing folk songs, "night chat", "datao" (making bonfires, eating 0) and other activities all night long. Returning to the bride's home: On the third day of the wedding, the couple returns to the bride's home together, which is called "returning to the bride's home". They must sleep in the same bed at the parents-in-law's home that night, and the number of days they stay must be an even number. Huayao marriage customs have certain historical, cultural, artistic and sociological values. The etiquette and customs contain the rich history, culture, moral concepts and folk rules of the Huayao. Since 2000, dozens of domestic and foreign television media have successively filmed special programs in Huxing Mountain.

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