One of the items that we would have to get for our 过大礼 are Chinese Wedding Lamps to be placed at our bedside table. The significance of the lamps are to shower the couple with blessings and for them to have many sons.
Significance of Chinese Wedding Lamps
The Chinese culture revolves around auspicious sounding items and sons! In every Chinese wedding, the couple are always showered with blessings for them to have many sons to carry on the family name. Lamps in Chinese (“deng”) has a similar sound to sons (“ding”). So the symbolic gesture of lighting the wedding lamps signifies the addition of sons to the family. The brightness of the pair of lamps also symbolises a long and bright life ahead for the couple.
How Long Should I Light The Lamps For?
The wedding lamps are usually lit by the auspicious lady who installed the marriage bed or the parents. There are several variations to the custom on how long they should be kept lit for. Some say the lamps should be lit on the day of the bed installation and kept on until the wedding night. Other variations recommend for the lamps to be lit only before the wedding day and kept burning for 3 days and 3 nights after the wedding to illuminate the new couple’s life. Both variations are valid. However, if you have elders in the family you might want to check with them and follow their recommendations.
We didn't want to get the traditional oil lamps as we would only be using it on the wedding itself and will be kept in storage after that. Furthermore, it will be a fire hazard. We wanted something that is modern and functional yet would be acceptable by the elders. On our foray for furnitures a few weeks back at ikea, we chanced upon this beautiful, red Knubbig Lamp. It is red. It runs on electricity. It is chic and nice. It fulfills my criteria. We have decided to get a pair of this for our wedding once his mom gives the go ahead.
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