During my Chinese engagement party (过大礼), my boyfriend came to my home with the gifts to ask for my hand from my parents. Few older relatives from his family came with him to represent sincerity and respect towards my family regarding this marriage.
When they arrived, my family accepted some the wedding goodies to show we have accepted the marriage proposal. In addition, my parents prepared some gifts as their blessings for us-the couple. My parents also gave Ang Baos to his relatives who helped to deliver the gifts. My family cooked a feast to celebrate this joyful occasion, my mum prepared her famous Nonya Chicken Curry and Wuxiang.
Betrothal Basket - the essential icon for Chinese Engagement Ceremony
It can be purchased, borrowed or rented in Singapore.
It can be purchased, borrowed or rented in Singapore.
We have simplified some of our Chinese engagement gifts so as to make it more practical for our lifestyle. We are sharing our Guodali list to encourage more Chinese couples to keep the Guodali tradition. Traditions do not have to be cumbersome or inflexible. It can be modernized while retaining it's original good meaning.
Gifts from the Groom's family.
They are presented inside the Chinese Betrothal Basket.
They are presented inside the Chinese Betrothal Basket.
Bethrothal Gifts (Guo Da Li) Prepared by Groom’s family
• 8 - 24 cans of pig trotters (replaced Roasted Piglet, since we do not know how to cut it)
• 12 - 22 oranges (Oranges sounds like Gold in dialect)
• 2 bottles of red wine (we prefer to drink red wines than hard liquor)
• Boxes of wedding cakes (As the wedding cakes will be given to the relatives with the wedding invitation card, the total number of boxes required depending on the number of the relatives and families)
Please refer to my post on Chinese Wedding Pastries for more details
• 2 Ang Baos
• A set of Gold Jewelleries that consists of 4 items (bracelet, ring, necklace and a pair of earrings)
Gifts from the Bride's family.
To be put in the Chinese Betrothal Basket and return to the Groom's family.
• Portion of the pig trotters, oranges, 1 Angbao and some boxes wedding cakes (to show the Bride has accepted this marriage proposal)
• 2 bottles of honey (wish that the couple's love will forever be healthy and sweet)
• Sweet food like Red Dates, Lotus Seeds and Longan (hope the couple's new life together will be sweet)
• Pants for the groom (pants sounds like good fortune in Cantonese)
• Red Bed sheet (wish the new family grow in numbers)
• Sewing box complete with needles, thread and scissors (wish the Bride to nurture the family)
• Ruler (wish the new family manage their new life together with prudence)
• Mirror and comb (wish the Bride and her family to be well-groomed and presentable)
Please note that all items are given in even numbers for auspicious sake.
