ANCIENT CUSTOMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1943, Page 6

ANCIENT CUSTOMS

CHINESE WEDDING IN DUNEDIN

Ancient Chinese marriage customs, seldom observed in New Zealand, characterised the wedding of Roy Ting Shang, only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Law, of Dunedin, to Sylvia Ngan Ting, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Gee, of Wellington, which was performed in First Church, Dunedin, one evening last week. The Rev. G. H. McNeur. an old friend of the Law family, who was their neighbour in Canton, officiated at the ceremony. The bride wore a lovely trained frock of silver lame and carried a bouquet of lilies. She was attended by her sisters, the Misses Dorothy and K&thleen Gee, whose frocks were of pale blue lace over pink taffeta. They wore blue veils and wreaths of artificial flowers in their hair. Mr.

Walter Chin was best man, and Mr. Keng Chin groomsman. Mrs. Law, the bridegroom's mother, wore a Chinese, national gown of black chenille velvet and a short skunk coat. Mrs. Gee's frock was of blue and white floral silk. . Nearly 400 guests sat down to the marriage feast in the Pioneers' Hall. Over the doorway hung four Chinese characters in a frame, specially written in one of the oldest types of print, dating back to the Soong dynasty. It read, "Law—Gee Marriage," and was intended to symbolise the welcome of the bride into the bridegroom's family. KESPECTS TO THEIR PARENTS. According to Chinese custom, the parents and guests were all seated before the arrival of 'the bride and bridegroom. After the playing of the Chinese National Anthem and "God Save the King," the newly married couple paid their respects to their parents, bowing three times to them and once to the guests before taking their seats at the centre of the table. All kinds of Chinese dishes, including specially-roasted pork, poultry, and vegetables, as well as an ordinary European wedding breakfast, were offered to the guests. Toasts were honoured, the speeches being in English and Chinese, with Mr. McNeur as interpreter. Items by some of the guests, who were both Chinese and European, were given during the feast, and a dance followed. Mr. Roy Law graduated in Chinese literature at the Lingnan University before coming to New Zealand six years ago to study medicine at Otago University. He is the first male Chinese student to take this course and has been prominent in the; Chinese community in Dunedin. The bride belongs to a well-known Wellington family, and many of her relatives and friends travelled from Wellington to be present at the marriage, which created great interest. Crowds thronged the church grounds to watch the arrival of the guests ahd bridal party.