Can China tone down its over-the-top weddings?
- Government steps in to discourage rampant money worship, sexual assault and violence
- Time to celebrate in a more traditional and frugal way
Weddings have become the latest target for reform in China, reflecting government concerns that the ritual has become extravagant and, in some cases, immoral.
The move to change how people marry follows a controversial funeral reform which is under way throughout the mainland which similarly aims to simplify the trappings of another milestone in people’s lives.
According to China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, modern weddings are extravagant and can sometimes raise moral issues. Instead, it wants to encourage people to celebrate their big day in a more traditional and frugal way.
Economic Daily reported the ministry had a number of phenomena in its sights – including “sky-high” monetary gifts, a perceived need to keep up with the neighbours, and hazings that often lead to assault and violence – reflecting “rampant money worship” and “declining morality”.
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Those problems “not only hinder growth and poverty alleviation in rural areas, but also affect the harmony of families and healthy development of society”, the ministry said it a national conference on Friday in Jinan, Shandong province in eastern China.
