Engagement custom in Xian 'an, Xianning, Hubei Province

Both men and women choose an auspicious day, the matchmaker takes the man's son to the woman's house, the woman's parents draw up a list of five or six uncles, seven aunts and eight aunts, the man's house prepares "four gifts", and the woman's elders and matchmaker lead them in one by one.

After this procedure is completed, both parents will choose another auspicious day, and the man will inform all the closest relatives to get together, and the matchmaker will take the future daughter-in-law to the man to recognize his relatives. After the luncheon, all uncles and aunts will give red envelopes to the woman, and the amount depends on their economic conditions. In the afternoon, the woman was escorted home by the matchmaker.

Present a dowry to the bride's family

In Xianning rural areas, it is usually the day before marriage. The man sends people, usually the matchmaker, son-in-law and the man's uncles and uncles, to deliver gifts, clothes, tables and drinks to the woman's house after daily consultation. The woman hosted a banquet in honor of the man and his party. After lunch, the man and his party hurried home. If the woman is far away in Xianning, she can't return that day, and there is also the custom of staying at the woman's house for the night and marrying the bride the next day.

Men's gifts can be roughly divided into these categories. One is the bride's wedding dress. In the past, wealthy families usually prepared eight sets of coats and eight sets of underwear for the bride. Second, gold and silver jewelry, gold rings, gold necklaces and gold earrings; The third is the quilt, and the average person has to prepare six layers.

Xianning rules, the woman prepares eight beds of cotton wool, and the man prepares eight quilts; Four, fish, table, fish, meat, wine, generally depends on the number of female guests, this point has been discussed in the newspaper that day, the man is fully prepared.