A friend asked me in occasion that if the Bride’s father is absent, then who should giving-out the Bride in the wedding. In the Western traditions, the wedding rites follow the Christian value, the Man is the head of the family, therefore, father is the In-charge and pick up the role to giving-out the Bride. Similarly, in Chinese traditions, under the principal of Three Obediences (三從): obey her father as a daughter (未嫁從父), obey her husband as a wife (出嫁從夫), and obey her sons in widowhood (夫死從子), the eldest son in the family will pick up the leading role after the father has passed away, therefore, the Bride could be giving-out by her brother. And if the Bride has no brothers, then the brothers of father could giving-out the Bride.
With reference to the traditions, mother's role seems invisible. I recommend mother could also giving-out the Bride. Especially we all know our mothers have paid more to rise us, nurtured us, they definitely should be respected and recognized. In fact, according to the Chinese traditions, both the father-in-law and the mother-in-law are equally giving their consents to receive the daughter-in-law by drinking the tea of the couples. In this sense, the Mother should be the best person to giving-out the Bride, right?
With reference to the traditions, mother's role seems invisible. I recommend mother could also giving-out the Bride. Especially we all know our mothers have paid more to rise us, nurtured us, they definitely should be respected and recognized. In fact, according to the Chinese traditions, both the father-in-law and the mother-in-law are equally giving their consents to receive the daughter-in-law by drinking the tea of the couples. In this sense, the Mother should be the best person to giving-out the Bride, right?
