Strange Wedding Tradition in China: Garlic as a Dowry Gift

In some areas of Guangdong province, the Hakka people, a distinctive ethnic Chinese group, maintain a traditional practice where the bride brings garlic as part of her dowry. They believe garlic can drive away evil, eliminate negative energy, and help the new family live harmoniously. On wedding days, the bride's family prepares a carefully selected vegetable tray tied with a red ribbon, which is brought to the groom's house. Each vegetable carries symbolic meaning: chives represent diligence, green onions symbolize wisdom, and garlic is associated with financial management skills. Beyond economic symbolism, garlic is believed to have high spiritual power, capable of preventing misfortune and illness. This tradition stems from adaptations to the hot, humid climate of southern China, where garlic was used to combat unwanted odors and was believed to have protective properties.