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Group ceremonies became trendyin the 1930s
By Zhou Qique |
February 27, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SINCE there were so many customs and procedures for weddings that some found annoying and tiring, some open-minded people suggested holding Western-style group weddings in the 1930s.
Group weddings at that time were quite similar to those of today's group weddings. The first group wedding in Shanghai took place in 1935, when the city was promoting a "new life style" and reforming wedding customs. Fifty-seven couples participated in the first group wedding.
The wedding was ceremonious but also simple. All the grooms wore a blue robe and black jacket and all the brides wore a Western-style white wedding gown and white silk scarf over their head, symbolizing the couple loved each other until their hair turned white.
As the wedding march sounded, newlyweds first bowed three times toward the photo of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The couple then bowed to each other and, finally to the witnesses at the wedding.
After that, the witnesses presented the marriage certificates and souvenirs to each couple, addressed to explain the meaning of holding group wedding and called for more youths to participate actively.
I have kept a marriage certificate from that first group wedding more than 75 years ago, which belonged to Zhou Tianyi, a native of Jiading District, and his wife Yang Xiuzhen. The certificate is colorful and delicate, pretty like an award. On the certificate it includes the birth date of the groom and bride, from right to left according to the tradition at that time.
It showed that Zhou and Yang applied together to participate in the first Jiading County New Life Group Wedding in the assembly hall of Jiading Public Education Institute, the current Confucius Temple. There were signatures and seals from the wedding officiator and witness on the certificate.
In 1995, Zhou and Yang held a ceremony to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) with their children and grandchildren. It was such a moving and enviable moment.
Zhou's family live in Dongdajie Street in Jiading Town, but he has already passed away. He used to recall his wedding, saying: "I remember it was the time to promote a new life style, getting rid of bad traditions and resisting extravagance. The wedding really saved me a lot of money at that time. Besides, we sat in a car decorated with colorful balloons instead of sedan chairs and had a trip around the county. Many people along the roadsides waved to us. It was quite a grand festival."
(All stories are translated by Pan Zheng.)
Group weddings at that time were quite similar to those of today's group weddings. The first group wedding in Shanghai took place in 1935, when the city was promoting a "new life style" and reforming wedding customs. Fifty-seven couples participated in the first group wedding.
The wedding was ceremonious but also simple. All the grooms wore a blue robe and black jacket and all the brides wore a Western-style white wedding gown and white silk scarf over their head, symbolizing the couple loved each other until their hair turned white.
As the wedding march sounded, newlyweds first bowed three times toward the photo of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The couple then bowed to each other and, finally to the witnesses at the wedding.
After that, the witnesses presented the marriage certificates and souvenirs to each couple, addressed to explain the meaning of holding group wedding and called for more youths to participate actively.
I have kept a marriage certificate from that first group wedding more than 75 years ago, which belonged to Zhou Tianyi, a native of Jiading District, and his wife Yang Xiuzhen. The certificate is colorful and delicate, pretty like an award. On the certificate it includes the birth date of the groom and bride, from right to left according to the tradition at that time.
It showed that Zhou and Yang applied together to participate in the first Jiading County New Life Group Wedding in the assembly hall of Jiading Public Education Institute, the current Confucius Temple. There were signatures and seals from the wedding officiator and witness on the certificate.
In 1995, Zhou and Yang held a ceremony to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary (60 years) with their children and grandchildren. It was such a moving and enviable moment.
Zhou's family live in Dongdajie Street in Jiading Town, but he has already passed away. He used to recall his wedding, saying: "I remember it was the time to promote a new life style, getting rid of bad traditions and resisting extravagance. The wedding really saved me a lot of money at that time. Besides, we sat in a car decorated with colorful balloons instead of sedan chairs and had a trip around the county. Many people along the roadsides waved to us. It was quite a grand festival."
(All stories are translated by Pan Zheng.)
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