QUESTION:

How many days before a traditional Chinese Han wedding must a Groom not see the Bride?

a) One day
b) Three Days
c) Eight Days
d) Nine days
e) 250 days

ANSWER:
a) No that is the Western concept. Lao Wai always rushes things!

b) Right on the mark. Even when the groom selected his own bride, which was rare, he was not allowed to see the her for three days before the wedding. Not that he would have time anyway, as any diligent groom would be busy preparing special cakes for the bride's family to give to their guests, and he had to arrange for the purchase of the bridal bed. Such beds that were bought from fertile craftsmen with many children had to be covered with lotus seeds, oranges and the like.

c) Eight is the luckiest number in China, but most men can't wait eight days for anything. Guess again.

d) Nine is the number for the Emperor, not weddings.

e) Only if the boy is an 250, which means fool.