Usually Christmas I will join my friend’s Christmas party plus gathering but this year I have to skip and help out in my niece betrothal ceremony which fell on Christmas day. (Betrothal, “grand gift” is presented by the groom’s family to the bride’s family). My niece has made the history in our Chia’s family – this is the 1st marriage after 100 years we have daughter getting married.
We received the following “grand gift” from the groom’s family:-
• western and chinese wedding cakes
• two bottles of brandy
• even numbered of tangerines or oranges
• rice and sesame candies balls 油麻筒
• a pork leg and a whole roast pig
• two pairs of dragon and phoenix candles 龙凤烛
• Bride’s price 娉金 (Some people also call the bride’s price “bride’s dowry”) from the groom to the bride
After the ceremony over, that’s the busiest moment for us to help deliver and distribute out all the biscuits and cakes to friends and relatives.
