Male and female butterflies

These are origami male and female butterflies that are attached to the choshi (sake cups) and hisage (sake cups) used at weddings. Usually, gold and silver or red and white paper is folded into the shape of a butterfly, and the antennae of the butterfly are attached with gold and silver mizuhiki (water-based string). When the wedding ceremony is held in an ordinary home, a boy and a girl with both parents are selected, and sake is poured from both sides into the newlyweds' cups at the same time. For this reason, the names Ochou Mechou (male and female butterflies) can also refer to the children of these two people, with their original meanings shifting.

[Hisako Maruyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

結婚式の杯事(さかずきごと)のときに使う銚子(ちょうし)や提子(ひさげ)につける、折り紙の雄雌の蝶のこと。通例は金銀や紅白の紙を蝶の形に折り、そこに金銀の水引(みずひき)で蝶の触覚をつけて用いる。婚礼の式場が普通の家に設けられる場合は、両親のそろった男女の子供が選ばれて、そこで新夫婦の杯に同時に双方から酒をつぐ。このため雄蝶雌蝶の名称は、もとの意味から転じて、この2人の男女の子供をさしていう場合もある。

［丸山久子］

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