 The wedding took place in 1908 . According to a number of Mao 's biographers , the ceremony would have likely followed traditional rural Hunanese custom . Thus , it probably would have begun with a feast in the groom 's home on the day before the ceremony , to which friends and relatives were invited . The next day , the bride would have been dressed in red , with a red veil over her face , and carried by red palanquin to the groom 's family home . There , her veil would have been removed , and she would have been expected to express unhappiness and dissatisfaction with the groom by publicly insulting him . According to tradition , a display of fireworks would probably have taken place , before both bride and groom would have kowtowed to each guest , to the groom 's ancestral altar , to the spirits , and to one another , concluding the ceremony . 
