Hair Combing Ceremony
A hair combing ceremony (梳頭, shūtóu) is also conducted on the eve of the wedding. After showering with water infused with pomelo or pomegranate leaves, the bride and groom change into a new set of clothing and shoes. Attending female family members bless them aloud as they sit in front of an open window with the visible moon or in front of the mirror.
The four blessings are:
- 一梳梳到尾，(First combing, together all your lives)
- 二梳百年好合，(Second combing, harmony in your marriage)
- 三梳子孙满堂，(Third combing, blessed with many children and grandchildren)
- 四梳白发齐眉。(Fourth combing, blessed with longevity)
A sweet soup of pink glutinous balls called tangyuan (湯圓) is served after the hair combing ceremony to wish the couple a complete and sweet marriage.
Read more about this topic: Chinese Pre-wedding Customs
Famous quotes containing the words hair and/or ceremony:
“As long as the “woman’s work” that some men do is socially devalued, as long as it is defined as woman’s work, as long as it’s tacked onto a “regular” work day, men who share it are likely to develop the same jagged mouth and frazzled hair as the coffee-mug mom. The image of the new man is like the image of the supermom: it obscures the strain.”
—Arlie Hochschild (20th century)
“Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
—Henry James (1843–1916)