Tainan honors model fathers and diamond wedding couples with touching ceremonies

Tainan's Houbi District celebrated paternal love and enduring marital commitment by honoring 14 model fathers, dubbed "Diamond Dads," and 14 diamond wedding couples on Sunday.

District chief Li Zhi-bin presented the awards, highlighting the fathers' silent dedication and the couples' 60 years of shared life as testaments to mutual tolerance, trust, and cherishing each other. The ceremony featured a warm opening by the Baihe Fu'an Temple Chinese Orchestra and lively performances by local dance troupes.

A "Ring of True Feelings" ritual saw spouses re-gift wedding rings, evoking the moment they first pledged their lives to each other and embodying the sentiment of "holding your hand, growing old with you." This was followed by the "Hidden Gratitude" ritual, where family members massaged the fathers' shoulders and expressed their heartfelt thanks for years of hard work. Many fathers responded with smiles of contentment, while some were visibly moved to tears.

Among the honored fathers, Zhang Ji-zhu was recognized for his resilience after losing his wife and raising his three children alone. The diamond wedding couples, averaging 82 years old, included Hong Wen-rong and Liao Xue, and Huang Xiang-shan and Huang Lai Qiu-hua, who were also honored by the city government.