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| Folk Customs
- She Nationality > The "Phoenix" Bride |
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Bridal
sedans from the olden days are still used in She weddings.
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She wedding ceremonies are another good example
of the continuing traditions of totem worship. The legend tells
that the Third Princess, a lady of high rank, married Panhu,
who was considered below her, and later all her three sons married
princesses. Naturally, in view of this, women are held in great
esteem, and have come to be known as "phoenixes".
Perhaps because of this, a bride is given the honourable title
of "phoenix" on her wedding day. Early in the morning of that
day, the bride's mother helps her to dress. The "phoenix dress"
and "phoenix hair-do" mark the end of her girlhood. She also
has to wear a "phoenix crown", which is delicately made of more
than a dozen ounces of fine silver. In front of the crown hangs
a veil of small silver plaques, each with a different picture
on it. These pictures usually depict the daily life of the She
people's forefathers and some of their objects of worship. Once
the sedan-chair bearing the bride has been carried out, the
mother firmly closes all the doors to indicate that her daughter
will have no need to return to her, as everything will go well
with the girl in future. |
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