Education

Double Happiness Character

Paper cutouts or prints of the double happiness character, xǐ (喜), are often pasted on walls, doors, and windows when a wedding celebration takes place. Traditionally, the bridal chamber was decorated with large red xǐ (喜) characters. In addition to attracting luck, red is the color of joy and happiness, and thus the bride always wears red. The origins of this practice can be traced back to the Song dynasty (960-1279 A.D.).

 

Vivien Sung, Five-Fold Happiness: Chinese Concepts of Luck, Prosperity, Longevity, Happiness and Wealth, pp. 162-163, Chronicle Books, 2002