高台：“面子”变“里子”新风吹开幸福花

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the efforts in Gaotai County to reform traditional wedding customs, particularly focusing on reducing high bride prices and promoting a culture of practicality over ostentation in marriage practices [1][2][3][4]. Group 1: Changes in Wedding Customs - Zhao Zhihu, an elder from Zhanan Village, emphasizes the importance of practical living over high bride prices, reflecting a growing sentiment among villagers [1]. - Gaotai County has established regulations through the Red and White Council, revising village rules to impose hard constraints on wedding expenses, including a bride price cap of 60,000 yuan and limits on banquet sizes [2]. - The county has seen the establishment of 136 Red and White Councils, which have led to a significant cultural shift towards more reasonable wedding practices [2]. Group 2: Role of Exemplary Figures - Local role models, such as Chang Xiuhong and Xiang Xiaoting, have set examples by either significantly reducing or eliminating bride prices, inspiring a movement towards more modest wedding customs [2]. - The county has recognized 13,000 "most beautiful families" and "civilized families," promoting positive examples to encourage others [2]. Group 3: Cultural Promotion and Community Engagement - Gaotai County has designated June and December as months for concentrated promotion of new customs, featuring local plays that address issues like bride prices [3]. - The county organizes collective ceremonies for couples practicing low bride prices, reinforcing the new cultural norms [3]. Group 4: Incentives for Civil Behavior - The county has implemented a system where civil behaviors are rewarded with points that can be exchanged for practical benefits, such as food items or financial dividends [4]. - Legal support has been established to address disputes related to bride prices, with successful mediation recovering over 400,000 yuan in excessive bride prices [4]. - The execution rate of the proposed bride price standards has reached over 60%, with a reported 30% decrease in average bride prices in Zhanan Village [4].