What is the engagement custom in Shaoxing?

Shaoxing is one of the important cradles of China traditional culture, and the engagement custom also has a long history and rich and diverse characteristics. The following are some common engagement customs in Shaoxing:

1. Asking for a wedding: Generally, the representative of the man's family, led by his elders or relatives, goes to the woman's house to propose marriage with gifts and bride price. In the woman's home, the man's representative will show his sincere love to the woman's parents and agree on the wedding date and other details.

2. Engagement ceremony: After proposing marriage, the man's family will send some bride price to the woman's family to show sincerity. These gifts can be gold and silver jewelry, red envelopes, tea and so on.

3. Going through the door: On the day before the wedding, the man's family will go to the woman's house with wedding supplies and bride price for the "going through the door" ceremony. The man's family needs to go through a series of tests and challenges of "closing the door and crossing the threshold" in order to get the "release" of the woman's family.

4. Exchange wedding gifts: The families of husband and wife will exchange wedding gifts with each other before the wedding to show their respect and blessing. These gifts usually include gold and silver jewelry, red envelopes, clothes, household items and so on.

Prenuptial banquet: Before the wedding, the man's family will invite the woman's family to have a sumptuous banquet to celebrate the upcoming wedding and further deepen their feelings.

6. Wedding: A wedding in Shaoxing usually includes welcoming relatives, visiting churches, offering tea and exchanging rings. These connections have profound cultural connotations and symbolic significance.

The engagement custom in Shaoxing varies from region to region and from family to family. The above is just a general introduction. The actual situation may be different due to personal choices and changes in the times.