Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.
3. The wedding ceremony itself is very simple.
The couple is guided to the family altar, where they pay homage to Heaven and Earth, the family ancestors and the Kitchen God, Tsao-Chün.
Tea, generally with two lotus seeds or two red dates in the cup, is offered to the groom’s parents.
The bride and groom bow to each other to complete the marriage ceremony.
After this, the couple is led to the bridal chamber, where they sit on the bed.
In some areas, honey and wine are poured into two goblets linked by a red thread.
Generally, the bride and groom’s families give separate wedding feasts.
The groom’s family gives the most important of the feast on the day of the wedding as a public recognition of the union.
4. Post wedding rituals start the day after the wedding when the bride awakens.
Generally, three days after the wedding the couple visits the bride’s family home, where the bride is received as a guest.
What do you think of these wedding traditions?
Talk to Bill and others about their experiences raising bi-cultural Japanese-American kids.
