Laiwu people are so far away from Jinan that their customs are different. How do they integrate into the local area?

In Laiwu's past rural habits, the marriage of men and women mostly followed the old ceremony of "parents' orders and matchmakers' words". Now, these customs have been gradually replaced by new western-style weddings. The author compiled these ancient customs into words and recorded the unique wedding etiquette characteristics of Laiwu.

The first step in marriage is to propose. A family with hundreds of women. When children are old enough to talk about marriage, the first thing they worry about is their parents, racking their brains to collect and save information that has been kept for decades. How old is their daughter, tall and thin? What are the parents' personalities? What's your reputation in Shili Baxiang? What about family? Then I will consider who to ask for this marriage. With a bottom in my heart, I started to act, taking snacks, alcohol and tobacco to find the matchmaker. Most matchmakers are people who know each other very well and know the root of the matter. If there is something incomplete at home, it is better to find a way to make the whole thing go smoothly.

If you get what you want, you should be prepared for the next "small meeting". If you can't do it, you have to ask the matchmaker to say it again. During this period, the role of matchmakers should not be underestimated. "Small Meeting" and "Small Meeting" are the first meeting between men and women, which continues the inheritance of marriage proposal. Generally speaking, the location is chosen in a secluded place between the two villages, so that others can't see it, and they are less embarrassed and more calm.

Basically, they are accompanied by brothers and sisters, sisters-in-law and aunts on both sides. Many people have multiple pairs of eyes, so as not to be embarrassed to see them all their lives. The most important thing is to let the two central figures look at each other. The following is a folk story about blind date: Once upon a time, there was a man named Gui Liang, with a good figure and personality, but his leg was lame; Another young woman named Julia has a good appearance and posture, but her nose is too flat and a little flat. Because they all have their own shortcomings, finding a partner often fails.

So, with the help of the matchmaker, before the blind date, the two men and women tried their best to hide their shortcomings and made a strange plan: Gui Liang rode on a horse and insisted on riding it, giving people a terrible impression that the general would not dismount; Julia, on the other hand, took a flower and blocked her nose to be an elegant beauty who smelled the flowers. Of course, the matchmaker didn't make it clear to both sides. After arrangement, he successfully directed the blind date play. Gui Liang rode slowly past Julia's door, and Julia immediately saw General Gui Liang, handsome and terrible! Take a good look at Julia-the beauty among flowers, slim and graceful! The two fell in love at first sight, thinking that the other party was definitely one in a hundred. Fortunately, the blind date of "walking around" was really wonderful.

The two sides agreed to hold a "small meeting" first, and then a "large meeting". The countryside is commonly known as the "convention", and the city people call it "engagement" or "engagement". In rural areas, the "big party" is the next major event after the "wedding", and it needs to be prepared several days in advance. The date of the "congress" has long been set, and the auspicious day of the zodiac will be held as scheduled, which is also a rare big ceremony in rural areas. Generally speaking, there are two tables for a banquet, one for men and the other for women.

This yard has been cleaned for a long time. I was splashed with water two or three times the night before, and it won't get dusty the next day. The yard looks very bright. The accompanying guests were also invited. They are prominent figures in the village and their own families. The dishes are bought according to the menu listed by the invited country chef, cleaned and put in a sieve. What to cut, what to fry, what to fry, just wait for the host to say that the food is served. Everyone's face is filled with uncontrollable joy, coming in and out, mouth and feet constantly. Needless to say, the appearance of the crowd shows the popularity of this family in the village.