Shang Tou is not just about hair dressing for the wedding, it is also the coming of age for the wedding couple. After the ceremony, the wedding couple are considered to be adults.
In each of their respective home, the groom and bride shower themselves with pomegranate leaves soaked in water and put on a pair of new pyjamas. Note that the groom has to perform the ceremony at least 15 minutes before the bride.
The ceremony is conducted by a good fortune lady or man. The ritual is preferred to be performed next to a window where moon is visible, so that the lunar god of fate, Yue Lao 月佬 could watch over the couple. The red string used at the ritual, symbolized the string of fate, which Yue Lao tie on couples destined to be together.
At the end of the ritual, serve glutinous rice ball (pink) soup with red dates and lotus to the couple. For the Teochews, they serve 2 eggs with mee sua to the wedding couple.
Items used for the ritual at Groom’s
• 1 ruler
• 1 mirror
• 1 piece of red string (to be tied on the groom at the end of the ceremony)
• 1 pointed comb
Item used for ritual at Bride’s
• 1 ruler
• 1 mirror
• 1 piece of red string (to be tied on the groom at the end of the ceremony)
• 1 rounded comb
Items to be place at altar table
• 1 pair of Dragon and Phoenix candles (to be lit)
• 3 Joss sticks (to be lit)
• Bowls of glutinous rice ball soup (6/9 pieces of glutinous rice balls)
• Fruits and meat
Above information courtesy of House of Etiquette
Other Wedding Traditions for Teochew & Hokkien
Betrothal Gift Ceremony 过大礼 (Guo Da Li)
Setting up Matrimonial Bed 安床 (An Chuang)
Fetching the Bride 接新娘 (Jie Xin Niang)
Leaving the Bride’s House 出阁 (Chu Ge)
Entering the groom’s house 过门 (Guo Men)
Returning to bride’s home 三朝回门 (San Chao Hui Men)