RAS-1980 — Page 160

RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 All AI Reviewed

128

NOTES AND QUERIES

and a cooked pig's head with the tail attached to it signifying a good start and a good end to the marriage. Everyone sensing that the ceremony is about to begin crowds into the chi tong to be sure of getting a good view. More firecrackers are set off, and in a good-natured fashion the cymbals player is told to shut up so that the proceedings can begin. The groom and his elder brother, who is there in place of the father who had died, kneel together on the straw mat in front of the altar. This they do three times, holding 3 sticks of incense and standing and bowing as the m/c, a village elder, chants. All done in good fun as they are told to bow lower, last time wasn't low enough! During this time they drink a cup of Chinese wine.

Then the bride arrives, goes to kneel next to the groom and the bowing, drinking wine, and burning incense takes place again. A message is then read out to the bride by the village elder, reminding her to be kind to her mother-in-law, look after the house well, and be good and obedient to her husband, etc. The groom promises nothing! The bride then stands up, and is escorted backwards out of the chi tong by some women, complaining bitterly as she goes that her shoes hurt. The elder brother rejoins the groom at the altar for more bowing and then the ceremony is over, but not before the bride has changed her shoes to signify the start of a new life. She then comes back to the chi tong and offers the village elders and her new parents-in-law a cup of tea, symbolising her new status in their home.

Outside there are more firecrackers being set off, Chinese music playing loudly, and those who tore themselves away from the mah pong to watch the ceremony have now returned to it. During this time the cooks have been busy killing the chickens which were running freely round the village, plucking them, and cooking as many as seven at a time in the big wok. A huge feast (another!) has been prepared, including fish dipped in batter, etc. At last everyone sits down to eat, red packets are distributed to those who have helped or given money to the bride and groom. By 3.30 all is over, and the guests go home, and the new bride and groom settle down to married life before returning the following month to the "New World” Takeaway in Blackpool.

Hong Kong, 1980.

VALERIE Garrett

Edit History

2026-05-12 23:55:04 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

128 NOTES AND QUERIES and a cooked pig's head with the tail attached to it signifying a good start and a good end to the marriage. Everyone sensing that the ceremony is about to begin crowds into the chi tong to be sure of getting a good view. More firecrackers are set off, and in a good-natured fashion the cymbals player is told to shut up so that the proceedings can begin. The groom and his elder brother, who is there in place of the father who had died, kneel together on the straw mat in front of the altar. This they do three times, holding 3 sticks of incense and standing and bowing as the m/c, a village elder, chants. All done in good fun as they are told to bow lower, last time wasn't low enough! During this time they drink a cup of Chinese wine. Then the bride arrives, goes to kneel next to the groom and the bowing, drinking wine, and burning incense takes place again. A message is then read out to the bride by the village elder, reminding her to be kind to her mother-in-law, look after the house well, and be good and obedient to her husband, etc. The groom promises nothing! The bride then stands up, and is escorted backwards out of the chi tong by some women, complaining bitterly as she goes that her shoes hurt. The elder brother rejoins the groom at the altar for more bowing and then the ceremony is over, but not before the bride has changed her shoes to signify the start of a new life. She then comes back to the chi tong and offers the village elders and her new parents-in-law a cup of tea, symbolising her new status in their home. Outside there are more firecrackers being set off, Chinese music playing loudly, and those who tore themselves away from the mah pong to watch the ceremony have now returned to it. During this time the cooks have been busy killing the chickens which were running freely round the village, plucking them, and cooking as many as seven at a time in the big wok. A huge feast (another!) has been prepared, including fish dipped in batter, etc. At last everyone sits down to eat, red packets are distributed to those who have helped or given money to the bride and groom. By 3.30 all is over, and the guests go home, and the new bride and groom settle down to married life before returning the following month to the "New World” Takeaway in Blackpool. Hong Kong, 1980. VALERIE Garrett

Baseline (Original)

128 NOTES AND QUERIES and a cooked pig's head with the tail attached to it signifying a good start and a good end to the marriage. Everyone sensing that the ceremony is about to begin crowds into the chi tong to be sure of getting a good view. More firecrackers are set off, and in a good natured fashion the cymbals player is told to shut up so that the proceedings can begin. The groom and his elder brother who is there in place of the father who had died, kneel together on the straw mat in front of the altar. This they do three times hold- ing 3 sticks of incense and standing and bowing as the m/c, a village elder, chants. All done in good fun as they are told to bow lower, last time wasn't low enough! During this time they drink a cup of Chinese wine. Then the bride arrives, goes to kneel next to the groom and the bowing, drinking wine, and burning incense takes place again. A message is then read out to the bride by the village elder, reminding her to be kind to her mother in law, look after the house well, and be good and obedient to her husband etc. The groom promises nothing! The bride then stands up, and is escorted backwards out of the chi tong by some women, complaining bitterly as she goes that her shoes hurt. The elder brother rejoins the groom at the altar for more bowing and then the ceremony is over, but not before the bride has changed her shoes to signify the start of a new life. She then comes back to the chi tong and offers the village elders and her new parents in law a cup of tea, symbolising her new status in their home. Outside there are more firecrackers being set off, Chinese music playing loudly, and those who tore themselves away from the mah pong to watch the ceremony have now returned to it. During this time the cooks have been busy killing the chickens which were running freely round the village, plucking them, and cooking as many as seven at a time in the big wok. A huge feast (another!) has been prepared including fish dipped in batter etc. At last everyone sits down to eat, red packets are distributed to those who have helped or given money to the bride and groom. By 3.30 all is over and and the guests go home, and the new bride and groom settle down to married life before returning the following month to the "New World” Takeaway in Blackpool. Hong Kong, 1980. VALERIE Garrett

2026-05-12 23:55:04 · Baseline

View content

128

NOTES AND QUERIES

and a cooked pig's head with the tail attached to it signifying a good start and a good end to the marriage. Everyone sensing that the ceremony is about to begin crowds into the chi tong to be sure of getting a good view. More firecrackers are set off, and in a good natured fashion the cymbals player is told to shut up so that the proceedings can begin. The groom and his elder brother who is there in place of the father who had died, kneel together on the straw mat in front of the altar. This they do three times hold- ing 3 sticks of incense and standing and bowing as the m/c, a village elder, chants. All done in good fun as they are told to bow lower, last time wasn't low enough! During this time they drink a cup of Chinese wine.

Then the bride arrives, goes to kneel next to the groom and the bowing, drinking wine, and burning incense takes place again. A message is then read out to the bride by the village elder, reminding her to be kind to her mother in law, look after the house well, and be good and obedient to her husband etc. The groom promises nothing! The bride then stands up, and is escorted backwards out of the chi tong by some women, complaining bitterly as she goes that her shoes hurt. The elder brother rejoins the groom at the altar for more bowing and then the ceremony is over, but not before the bride has changed her shoes to signify the start of a new life. She then comes back to the chi tong and offers the village elders and her new parents in law a cup of tea, symbolising her new status in their home.

Outside there are more firecrackers being set off, Chinese music playing loudly, and those who tore themselves away from the mah pong to watch the ceremony have now returned to it. During this time the cooks have been busy killing the chickens which were running freely round the village, plucking them, and cooking as many as seven at a time in the big wok. A huge feast (another!) has been prepared including fish dipped in batter etc. At last everyone sits down to eat, red packets are distributed to those who have helped or given money to the bride and groom. By 3.30 all is over and and the guests go home, and the new bride and groom settle down to married life before returning the following month to the "New World” Takeaway in Blackpool.

RAS-1980 — Page 160

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note