The Contrast between Chinese Wedding and Western Wedding.docx

The Contrast between Chinese Wedding and Western Wedding.docx

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TheContrastbetweenChineseWeddingandWesternWedding

中西方婚礼文化对比

TheContrastbetweenChineseWeddingandWesternWedding

Contents

Abstract…………………………………………………………………….1

Keywords………………………………………………………………….1

I.Introduction……………………………………………………………….1

II.Dating…………………………………………………………………...2

2.1Dressing…………………………………………………………….....3

III.Courtship………………………………………………………….…..3

IV.Engagement…………………………………………………………....4

4.1EngagementParty……………………………………………………..4

4.2EngagementRing………………………………………………………5

4.3Girl’sReceptionandBridalShower……………………………………6

V.Wedding………………………………………………………………....7

5.1WeddingTime…………………………………………….……………7

5.2WeddingForms…………………………………………...………7

5.3WeddingInvitation…………………………………………………….8

5.4ToolsforPickingUpBride…………………………………………….8

5.5BridalDressing………………………………………………………...9

5.6WeddingAttendants…………………………………….……………10

5.7WhoHoststheWeddingCeremonyandReception…………………..….10

VI.WeddingCeremonyandReception………………………..………..11

VII.Post-wedding………………………………………………………....13

VIII.WeddingAnniversaries……………………………………...………14

IX.Conclusion…………………………………………………………...14

References…………………………………………………………………14

摘　要：

　　随着中国改革开放的实施，西方的各种事物也逐渐进入中国，其中很多被中国人所接受。

婚礼仪式作为诸多外来文化的一部分，强烈地影响着中国人,尤其是年轻一代。

同时，传统的具有中国特色的婚礼仪式也是具有强大的感染力，许多外国人不远千里，远渡重洋，来到中国体验地地道道的传统中国婚礼。

本文重要描述了当前婚礼的全过程（约会、提亲、提亲、订婚、婚礼、婚宴和婚后等方面）；通过对中西方国家婚礼的程序和仪式进行对比、分析,从而得出两种文化的差异性和共同点,以促使两种文化更为广泛地交流与传播。

关键词：

约会；提亲；订婚；婚礼；婚宴

Abstract:

WiththereformingandopeningofChina,manykindsofwesternmattersenterChinagradually，andChinesepeopleacceptedmostofthem.Weddingceremony,asapartofvariedforeigncultures,influencesChinesepeople（especiallyyoungergeneration）dramatically.Atthesametime,traditionalChineseweddingceremony,withitsoutstandingcharactersandgreatcharming,attractsalotofforeigners,whocometoChinaandexperiencetheChineseweddingceremony.Thepaperdescribesthewholeprocessofcontemporarywedding（dating,proposal,engagement,weddingceremony,weddingreception,post-weddingandotheraspects）,itconcludesthedifferencesandsimilaritiesofprocessandceremonyofChineseandwesternweddingthroughcontrastandanalysissoastopromotetheexchangingandtransmitionofChineseandwesternculture.

Keywords:

dating;proposal;engagement;weddingceremony;weddingreception

I.Introduction

Aseveryoneknows,love,beyondthelimitationofnations,ethics,timesandspace,isaneternaltopicforhumanbeings.Itplaysanimportantandessentialroleinoursocialdevelopmentandhumancivilization.Sometimes,tooursurprise,itcangiveusmagicalpowertoconquerthedifficultiesthatwemeetinourdailylife.However,lovecanjustprovesthatthetwoloversknowandunderstandtherelationshipverywell,andotherscannotunderstandit.Weddinghasanespecialfunctionwhichcanhelpyourealizeyourlong-cherishedwill,itstatestoothersthatthetwoloverscombineandlivetogetherforever.WithChinesereforming,openinganddeveloping,ChinesetraditionalculturestepsoutofChinaandenterswesterncountries,thentheweddingceremonybecomesapartoftheirculturegradually,evenmoreandmorepeoplerootedinthewesterncountriesfavorChinesetraditionalwedding.SomepeoplestagetheweddingceremonyontheirownsoilorinChinaadoptingChinesetraditionalweddingceremony,theytreatitasanhonorforthem.Atthesametime,Chinesepeopleacceptthewesternelite,usefulandhealthycultureanduseitintheirlife.Churchweddingisakindofwesternculture,thechurchisusedforsermonizingandworshippinginwesternChristianizedcountries.AlthoughChinesepeopledoesnotbelieveinJesusChrist,withthepeople’sthoughtcivilizingandchanging,manypeoplebelieveinChristandbuildchurchintheiractivitycentersusedforprayingandstagingweddingceremony,especiallyinlargeranddevelopedcitiesinChina.Theyounggroupintendstoenjoythewesternweddingatmosphere.Ethiccultureexperiencesthousandsyearsdevelopingandpassingon.Itsymbolizesapeoplewiththeiroutstandingethiccharacter,Chineseweddinghasitsowncharacter,andsodowesterncountries.Ibrieflysummarizethedifferencesandsimilaritiesbetweentwodifferentkindsofculturethroughcontrastandanalysisandremindtheyoungergenerationnottoforgetourtraditionalculture.

II.Dating

Generallyspeaking,dating,asthefirststepofmarriage,shouldbecarriedoutattheverybeginningofthewholeweddingprocess.ButtheweddingdidnotbeginwiththedatinginancientChinainsteadoftheproposal.Whenitistimeforboyandgirltogetmarried,boy’sparentsshouldproposetogirlfirstly.Afterproposal,iftheboyandthegirlagreedwithandsatisfiedwiththeevent,so,theystartedtodate.Generally,theboyinvitedthegirltoseetheancientperformancessuchasacrobaticsshownonthestreetorpublicplaces,orthelanternfestivalperformedatnight.Inaword,theplacewheretheywenttodatewasnotmanycomparingtonowadays.Duringthisperiod,theycouldlearnofeachotherandcultivatethefeelingsbetweenthem,iftheystayedtogethersmoothlyandhappily,theywouldmovetothenextstep.However,withthesocialdevelopmentandtheyoungergeneration’smindcivilizing,theybegintodatewiththeiridealmatchinthetheatres,moviesandquietrestaurantsbythemselvesandcanceltheirparents’interference.Oftenboysinvitegirlsouttoseethemovieswithpopcornandinexpensivejunkfoodandtheyenjoythelovestoriesandfunnyplots,thisatmospherecanstimulatetheirbeautifulminds,aftermovies,theyoftenchooseaquietandsmallrestaurantfilledwiththebeautifullovesongsorsweetmelodyofthepianotohavesupper,whichdependsontheboy’staste.Aftersupper,theboyalwayspaysthefee.Often,theydateintheeveningbutnotintheearlymorning,afterdating,theboyshouldtakethegirlbackhomeandsaygoodnight.However,inthewesterncountries,whatisthesignificanceofAmericandating?

Oftendatingmeansnomorethangettingtoknowoneanotherandhavingsomefun.Itisoftenthebeginningofafriendshipwithsomeonewhomyoumaylikebutnotnecessarymarry.DatingisnotasseriousinAmericaasitisinsomecountries,butitisimportantbecauseeverypersonhasthefreedomtochoosehismarriagepartner,onewithwhomhehopestospendtherestofhislife.Datingisonewaytoaccomplishthatgoal.Perhaps,thedemocracyintheWestdevelopsdramatically,forthedating,onthefirstdating,someAmericanwomenprefertogo“Dutchtreat”.Thismeansthatthegirlpaysforherself.BecauseAmericansareinformalintheirdatingpattern,thereisnorulethatsaysboysalwayspay.Maybesomeofyoudonotagreewiththis,butsomeAmericanspreferit.Inmostforeigncountries,theboyusuallypaysallexpenseswhenhetakesagirlout,evenonthefirstdate.Thegirlneverpaysunlessitisaspecialoccasion.Thenthegirlmayinsistonpaying,butonlyiftheyhavegoneouttogetherforquiteawhile.

2.1Dressing

Beforedating,theboywearsthesuitorderlyandpolishedshoesandcombshishairlengthily.Forgirl,shedressesherupcarefullyaswell,thechoiceofclothesandshoes,blouseortrousersandperfume.Inwesterncountries,theboydresseslikeaChinesemoreorless,butaremarkabledifferencethereistheboywearingdeodorantandanafter-shavelotionorperfumeatalltime.Themedia-conditionedAmericansprefertoscentsofcosmeticproductstothenaturalsmellofbody.Yetithasbeenscientificallyproventhatthesmellofsweatofacleanbodycanattracttheoppositesex.ManyAmericans,however,feeltheneedtocoverupnaturalsmellscreatedbythesectionofglandsduringphysicalactivitywithartificialperfumesorcolognes.

III.Courtship

Whilethedatingcarriesonsmoothlyandsuccessfully,theboythinksitistimetosay“IhavefalleninlovewithyoupassionatelyandhopelesslyasImetyouatfirstsight,areyouwillingtoacceptmylovetoyouandmarryme”thecourtshipproposedsuddenlywhilethegirlhasnoconsciousnessandpreparationinhermind,itcansurprisethegirlandbefullofromance,itisproposed,perhaps,inanuncertaindating,oranouttravelingorsomeoccasions.Inaword,itisnotproposeduntilthechanceisripen.Inwesterncountries,theboyandagirlwhodateeachotherspendalotoftimetogetherlearningtoknoweachother,whentheybegintodatefrequentlyandseriously,theyenterintothestageofcourtship.Usually,boyfirstproposestothegirl,andoftenhetriestosurprisethegirlinaromanticway,duringtheceremonyofcourtship,theboykneelsdownonelegandswearformallyandseriously,ifthegirlagreewithhiscourtship,theboygivesherfiancéeadiamondringasasymboloftheirengagement,theymayengagedforweeks,monthsandevenmoreyearsbeforetheygetmarried.

IV.Engagement

Afterthecourtship,theboyandthegirltelltheirparentstheeventindividually.Sobothsetofparentsexchangefamilycredentialsastokenofintention.Then,afterexchangeafterextensivebargaining,thetwofamilieswouldarriveattheamountofmoneyandgoodsthatwouldmakeupthegifttothegirl’sfamily.Afterpresentingengagementtokens,thego-betweenwouldaskthebride’sfamilytochoseamongseveralauspiciousdatessuggestedbytheboy’sfamilyandalsosetadateforpresentingbetrothalgifts.ItistraditionalChineseceremony.Inmoderntimes,insomeruralandremoteareas,theboy’sfamilystillgivesmoneyonlytothegirl’sexcepttea,bridalcakes,pairsofmaleandfemalepoultryandsugar,wineandtobacco.ItisChinesecharacter,butinsomedevelopedandhigh-civilizedareas,theboy’sdonotpaygirl’sonecoin.Inwesterncount