The meaning of bridal chamber flowers and candles in ancient times refers to the joyful scene on the wedding night. The word "flower candle" refers to candles engraved with dragon and phoenix patterns. On the wedding night, lighting such candles in the bridal chamber is also a blessing to the two newlyweds. 1. Flowers and Candles
The poem "The Night of Flowers and Candles in the Bridal Room" comes from the "Poem of the Prodigy" in the Northern Song Dynasty. It starts with the four major joyous events in life and is concentrated in concepts. The ancients would choose to welcome the bride at dusk in the evening. Before that, the home for welcoming the bride will be decorated, and after the bridal chamber, it will evolve into what we call the wedding room today. Place candles carved with dragons and phoenixes in the room. The dragons and phoenixes on the candles represent the bride and groom, implying the bond between men and women and their lasting love. 2. Wedding preparations
The ancients attached great importance to wedding preparations. From Zhou to Qin and Han Dynasties, they would choose red and black as the color of wedding clothes, thinking that this color is solemn, elegant and full of sacredness. During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, white shirts and tassels were used. During this period, people advocated returning to nature under the turbulent background. In the late Tang and Song Dynasties, wedding attire for men and women began to appear. The colors were festive and solemn, with a graceful and luxurious temperament. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, red wedding clothes were widely used, which is what we often call Fengguanxiapei. In addition, the ancients also respected etiquette in the decoration of our wedding rooms. Usually, things with beautiful meanings such as red candles, five pieces, and melon and fruit tents are placed in the room. 3. The meaning of candles
On the wedding night, red candles need to be lit and must stay lit all night. According to legend, among newlyweds, whoever blows out the candles first will die first. Therefore, the custom of "keeping flowers and candles" has emerged in many areas. On the wedding day, both men and women stay up all night, waiting for the candles to go out automatically. In the bridal chamber, a pair of candles is usually placed. According to legend, there is a male candle on the left and a female candle on the right. When one candle is extinguished, the other candle will also be extinguished. It means that both men and women are fighting for life and death. The Manchu people need to use a fan to extinguish the red candles during their wedding. Do not blow them out directly to avoid conflicting with the gods and causing bad luck.