Wedding.docx

1、Weddingwedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of wedding vows by the couple, presen

2、tation of a gift (offering, ring(s), symbolic item, flowers, money), and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or leader. Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is sometimes followed by a wedding reception. Music, poetry, prayers or readings from Scripture or li

3、terature is also optionally incorporated into the ceremony. A number of cultures have adopted the traditional Western custom of the white wedding, in which a bride wears a white wedding dress and veil. This tradition was popularized through the wedding of Queen Victoria. Some say Victorias choice of

4、 a white gown may have simply been a sign of extravagance, but may have also been influenced by the values she held which emphasized sexual purity.1 Within the modern white wedding tradition, a white dress and veil are unusual choices for a womans second or subsequent wedding. The notion that a whit

5、e gown might symbolize sexual purity has been long abandoned, and is criticized by etiquette writers like Judith Martin as distasteful.2The use of a wedding ring has long been part of religious weddings in Europe and America, but the origin of the tradition is unclear. Historians like Vicki Howard p

6、oint out that belief in the ancient quality of the practice are most likely a modern invention.3 Double ring ceremonies are also a modern practice, a grooms wedding band not appearing in the United States until the early 20th century.4The wedding is often followed by a reception, in which the ritual

7、s may include toasting the newlyweds, their first dance as spouses, and the cutting of a wedding cake.Wedding customs around the worldArab & Egyptian wedding customsAlthough Christian weddings in the Arab World bear similarities to Western weddings, Muslim weddings in the Arab countries are influenc

8、ed by Muslim traditions. Muslim weddings start with a Sheikh and Al-kitaab (book) for the bride and groom. A wedding is not Islamically valid unless both bride and groom are willing, and the groom is often encouraged to visit her before the wedding (as advised in many aadth of the Islamic prophet Mu

9、hammad). However, these visits must be chaperoned to ensure purity of action between the two. Men and women in wedding ceremonies and receptions are segregated, with areas for men and for women.Chinese wedding customsTraditional Chinese marriage is a ceremonial ritual within Chinese societies that i

10、nvolve a marriage established by pre-arrangement between families. Within Chinese culture, romantic love was allowed, and monogamy was the norm for most ordinary citizens. A band of musicians with gongs and flute-like instruments accompanies the bride parade to grooms home. Similar music is also pla

11、yed at the wedding banquet. Depending on the region that the bride hails from, Chinese weddings will have different traditions such as Tea Ceremony or the use of a wedding emcee. Also in modern times, Chinese couples will often go to photo studios to take glamour shots posing in multiple gowns and v

12、arious backgrounds.Most regional Chinese wedding rituals follow the main Chinese wedding traditions, although some rituals are particular to the peoples of the southern China region. In most southern Chinese wedding, the bride price is based on the grooms economic status. The idea of selling the dau

13、ghter or bride isnt a phrase that is used often therefore the price of the bride isnt too demanding. Most of the time the bride price is in the form of gold jewelry, fine fabric, or money, even a roast pig which symbolizes the bride to be a virgin. Wedding presents are given by the elderly couples o

14、r couples that are older than the newlyweds and tea is served by the younger family members.European customsBritish customsThe Western custom of a bride wearing a white wedding dress came to symbolize purity in the Victorian era, not virginity. Within the white wedding tradition, a white dress and v

15、eil is not considered appropriate in the second or subsequent wedding of a widow or divorcee. The specific conventions of Western weddings, largely from a Protestant and Catholic viewpoint, are discussed at white wedding.A wedding is often followed or accompanied by a wedding reception, which in som

16、e areas may be known as the Wedding Breakfast, at which an elaborate wedding cake is served. Western traditions include toasting the couple, the newlyweds having the first dance, and cutting the cake. A bride may throw her bouquet to the assembled group of all unmarried women in attendance, with fol

17、klore suggesting the person who catches it will be the next to wed. A fairly recent equivalent has the groom throwing the brides garter to the assembled unmarried men; the man who catches it is supposedly the next to wed.The Wedding Breakfast is one occasion where every member of the family who has

18、had at least some role in the wedding is present. It is also important as the first time the newly married bride and groom share their first meal together as a lawfully wedded couple. The word Breakfast comes from a more ancient tradition of fasting before the wedding ceremony, the Wedding Breakfast

19、 is therefore breaking that fast. The modern Wedding Breakfast includes the service of food to guests that can range from traditional roasts, buffets, or regional treats such as in the case of a London Wedding10 in the East End.Another Victorian tradition is for brides to wear or carry something old

20、, something new, something borrowed, something blue during the service. It is considered good luck to do so. Often the bride attempts to have one item that meets all of these qualifications, such as a borrowed blue handkerchief which is new to her but loaned by her grandmother (thus making it old).

21、Another addition to this custom is to wear a coin in ones shoe to bring prosperity.The full text of the verse is:Something old, something new,Something borrowed, something blue,And silver sixpence in your shoe.11Hedsor House, Stoke Park and Leeds Castle are some of the most famous and used wedding v

22、enues around London.French customsIn France, only civil weddings are legally recognized (due to the concept of lacit), they are performed in the town hall by the mayor (or another civil servant acting on his/her behalf). At least one of the spouses must reside in the town where the ceremony takes pl

23、ace. Since many people choose to also have a religious wedding, the religious ceremony often takes place immediately after the civil one. Town halls often offer a more elaborate ceremony for couples who do not wish to marry religiously.If the two ceremonies take place separately, the civil one will

24、usually include close family and witnesses. Once the civil ceremony is complete, the couple will receive a livret de famille, a booklet where a copy of the marriage certificate is recorded. This is an official document and, should the couple have children, each childs birth certificate will be recor

25、ded in the livret de famille too. The civil ceremony in France is free of charge.In smaller French towns, the groom may meet his fiance at her home on the day of the wedding and escort her to the chapel where the ceremony is being held. As the couple proceeds to the chapel, children will stretch lon

26、g white ribbons across the road which the bride will cut as she passes.At the chapel, the bride and groom are seated on two red velvet chairs underneath a silk canopy called a carre. Laurel leaves may be scattered across their paths when they exit the chapel. Sometimes small coins are also tossed fo

27、r the children to gather.At the reception, the couple customarily uses a toasting cup called a Coupe de Mariage. The origin of giving this toast began in France, when a small piece of toast was literally dropped into the couples wine to ensure a healthy life. The couple would lift their glass to a t

28、oast, as is common in Western culture today.In south west France it is customary to serve spit roast wild boar (or sanglier in French) as the wedding breakfast, a local delicacy.Some couples choose to serve a croquembouche instead of a wedding cake. This dessert is a pyramid of crme-filled pastry pu

29、ffs, drizzled with a caramel glaze.At a more boisterous wedding, tradition involves continuing the celebration until very late at night. After the reception, those invited to the wedding will gather outside the newlyweds window and bang pots and pans; this is called a shivaree. They are then invited

30、 into the house for some more drinks in the couples honor, after which the couple is finally allowed to be alone for their first night together as husband and wife. This practice spread throughout France as a way to celebrate special occasions. Decorative replicas of these special sabres can be purc

31、hased from artisans in Lyon, (the French capital of cutlery).Greek customsMain article: Marriage in the Eastern Orthodox ChurchTwo or three days before the wedding, the couple organizes a celebration called Krevati (Greek for bed) in their new home. In Krevati, friends and relatives of the couple pu

32、t money and young children on the couples new bed for prosperity and fertility in their life. After the custom, they usually have a party with food and music.On the day of the wedding, usually Saturday, but also Friday or Sunday, the groom cannot see the bride until the wedding ceremony. The groom usually arrives first in church and waits for bride, who usually arrives late. After they exchange flower bouquets, they have the wedding ceremony, where the best man puts the wedding rings and crowns on the couple. The couple drink red wine from the same glass (between one