Ethnic Groups in China: Chaoxian

The Chaoxian Ethnic Group, mostly residing in China’s northeast region, has a unique custom at weddings for predicting the gender of the couple’s future baby. The groom and the bride will throw a water ladle and observe how it lands. If it’s facing up, they’ll give birth to a girl. If it’s facing down, they’ll have a boy.

In the past, many people in the Chaoxian ethnic group preferred males, so if the water ladle was facing down, the man’s parents would start dancing. But now, regardless of whether the ladle is facing up or down, parents on both sides will get up and dance in celebration.