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1、中西方婚礼文化对比The Contrast between Chinese Wedding and Western WeddingContentsAbstract.1 Key words.1I. Introduction.1II. Dating.22.1 Dressing.3III. Courtship.3IV. Engagement.44.1 Engagement Party.44.2 Engagement Ring54.3 Girls Reception and Bridal Shower6V. Wedding.75.1 Wedding Time.75.2 Wedding Forms.75
2、.3 Wedding Invitation.85.4 Tools for Picking Up Bride.85.5 Bridal Dressing.95.6 Wedding Attendants.105.7 Who Hosts the Wedding Ceremony and Reception.10VI. Wedding Ceremony and Reception.11VII. Post-wedding.13VIII. Wedding Anniversaries.14IX. Conclusion .14References14The Contrast between Chinese We
3、ddingand Western Wedding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: With the
4、reforming and opening of China, many kinds of western matters enter China gradually，and Chinese people accepted most of them. Wedding ceremony, as a part of varied foreign cultures, influences Chinese people (especially younger generation) dramatically. At the same time, traditional Chinese wedding
5、ceremony, with its outstanding characters and great charming, attracts a lot of foreigners, who come to China and experience the Chinese wedding ceremony. The paper describes the whole process of contemporary wedding (dating, proposal, engagement, wedding ceremony, wedding reception, post-wedding an
6、d other aspects), it concludes the differences and similarities of process and ceremony of Chinese and western wedding through contrast and analysis so as to promote the exchanging and transmition of Chinese and western culture.Key words: dating; proposal; engagement; wedding ceremony; wedding recep
7、tionI. Introduction As everyone knows, love, beyond the limitation of nations, ethics, times and space, is an eternal topic for human beings. It plays an important and essential role in our social development and human civilization. Sometimes, to our surprise, it can give us magical power to conquer
8、 the difficulties that we meet in our daily life. However, love can just proves that the two lovers know and understand the relationship very well, and others cannot understand it. Wedding has an especial function which can help you realize your long-cherished will, it states to others that the two
9、lovers combine and live together forever. With Chinese reforming, opening and developing, Chinese traditional culture steps out of China and enters western countries, then the wedding ceremony becomes a part of their culture gradually, even more and more people rooted in the western countries favor
10、Chinese traditional wedding. Some people stage the wedding ceremony on their own soil or in China adopting Chinese traditional wedding ceremony, they treat it as an honor for them. At the same time, Chinese people accept the western elite, useful and healthy culture and use it in their life. Church
11、wedding is a kind of western culture, the church is used for sermonizing and worshipping in western Christianized countries. Although Chinese people does not believe in Jesus Christ, with the peoples thought civilizing and changing, many people believe in Christ and build church in their activity ce
12、nters used for praying and staging wedding ceremony, especially in larger and developed cities in China. The young group intends to enjoy the western wedding atmosphere. Ethic culture experiences thousands years developing and passing on. It symbolizes a people with their outstanding ethic character
13、, Chinese wedding has its own character, and so do western countries. I briefly summarize the differences and similarities between two different kinds of culture through contrast and analysis and remind the younger generation not to forget our traditional culture. II. DatingGenerally speaking, datin
14、g, as the first step of marriage, should be carried out at the very beginning of the whole wedding process. But the wedding did not begin with the dating in ancient China instead of the proposal. When it is time for boy and girl to get married, boys parents should propose to girl firstly. After prop
15、osal, if the boy and the girl agreed with and satisfied with the event, so, they started to date. Generally, the boy invited the girl to see the ancient performances such as acrobatics shown on the street or public places, or the lantern festival performed at night. In a word, the place where they w
16、ent to date was not many comparing to nowadays. During this period, they could learn of each other and cultivate the feelings between them, if they stayed together smoothly and happily, they would move to the next step. However, with the social development and the younger generations mind civilizing
17、, they begin to date with their ideal match in the theatres, movies and quiet restaurants by themselves and cancel their parents interference. Often boys invite girls out to see the movies with popcorn and inexpensive junk food and they enjoy the love stories and funny plots, this atmosphere can sti
18、mulate their beautiful minds, after movies, they often choose a quiet and small restaurant filled with the beautiful love songs or sweet melody of the piano to have supper, which depends on the boys taste. After supper, the boy always pays the fee. Often, they date in the evening but not in the earl
19、y morning, after dating, the boy should take the girl back home and say good night. However, in the western countries, what is the significance of American dating? Often dating means no more than getting to know one another and having some fun. It is often the beginning of a friendship with someone
20、whom you may like but not necessary marry. Dating is not as serious in America as it is in some countries, but it is important because every person has the freedom to choose his marriage partner, one with whom he hopes to spend the rest of his life. Dating is one way to accomplish that goal. Perhaps
21、, the democracy in the West develops dramatically, for the dating, on the first dating, some American women prefer to go “Dutch treat”. This means that the girl pays for herself. Because Americans are informal in their dating pattern, there is no rule that says boys always pay. Maybe some of you do
22、not agree with this, but some Americans prefer it. In most foreign countries, the boy usually pays all expenses when he takes a girl out, even on the first date. The girl never pays unless it is a special occasion. Then the girl may insist on paying, but only if they have gone out together for quite
23、 a while. 2.1 DressingBefore dating, the boy wears the suit orderly and polished shoes and combs his hair lengthily. For girl, she dresses her up carefully as well, the choice of clothes and shoes, blouse or trousers and perfume. In western countries, the boy dresses like a Chinese more or less, but
24、 a remarkable difference there is the boy wearing deodorant and an after-shave lotion or perfume at all time. The media-conditioned Americans prefer to scents of cosmetic products to the natural smell of body. Yet it has been scientifically proven that the smell of sweat of a clean body can attract
25、the opposite sex. Many Americans, however, feel the need to cover up natural smells created by the section of glands during physical activity with artificial perfumes or colognes. III. CourtshipWhile the dating carries on smoothly and successfully, the boy thinks it is time to say “ I have fallen in
26、 love with you passionately and hopelessly as I met you at first sight, are you willing to accept my love to you and marry me” the courtship proposed suddenly while the girl has no consciousness and preparation in her mind, it can surprise the girl and be full of romance, it is proposed, perhaps, in
27、 an uncertain dating, or an out traveling or some occasions. In a word, it is not proposed until the chance is ripen. In western countries, the boy and a girl who date each other spend a lot of time together learning to know each other, when they begin to date frequently and seriously, they enter in
28、to the stage of courtship. Usually, boy first proposes to the girl, and often he tries to surprise the girl in a romantic way, during the ceremony of courtship, the boy kneels down one leg and swear formally and seriously, if the girl agree with his courtship, the boy gives her fiance a diamond ring
29、 as a symbol of their engagement, they may engaged for weeks, months and even more years before they get married.IV. EngagementAfter the courtship, the boy and the girl tell their parents the event individually. So both set of parents exchange family credentials as token of intention. Then, after ex
30、change after extensive bargaining, the two families would arrive at the amount of money and goods that would make up the gift to the girls family. After presenting engagement tokens, the go-between would ask the brides family to chose among several auspicious dates suggested by the boys family and a
31、lso set a date for presenting betrothal gifts. It is traditional Chinese ceremony. In modern times, in some rural and remote areas, the boys family still gives money only to the girls except tea, bridal cakes, pairs of male and female poultry and sugar, wine and tobacco. It is Chinese character, but
32、 in some developed and high-civilized areas, the boys do not pay girls one coin. In western countries, the boys never paid the girls a lot, but the boy must face his father-in-law with serials of questions. Even if a young girl has supported herself and lived away from home, her parents have the rig
33、ht to know just how her fianc proposes to handle the long-rang financing of their family and home. The fianc should state his income, his savings, and his future expectations without exaggerating any of them.4.1 Engagement PartyIn China, engagement party is staged in boys family, the boy would invit
34、e his relatives and close friends to participate, the party is not grandeur just about fifty to a hundred guests from the girl side less and boy more. During the party, the girl should toast the guests from boy side under the guidance of the boy and the person who is familiar with these relatives an
35、d friends, the person and the boy introduce the relatives and friends to the girl, and the girl calls the respected names following the boy, the respected relatives can give the girl money, and girl should thank them and toast more than one cup, and a pointed person should declare this affair to the
36、 public loudly. If the house is not large enough, the not-very-important-guests have to seat in the courtyard. Generally, the toast should begin from guests who seat on the salt in the house to the ordinary guests, from female guest to male guest, from guest to serviceman, last but not least, the gi
37、rl can receive much money. After dinner, the acquitted guests get together and chat till it is time for the girls party leaving, so all the people belonging to boys side should farewell girls party. In the west, Engagement parties are given by the parents of the bride-to-be or by relative of the bri
38、de acting for her parents, usually just before the newspaper announcement of engagement. If the bride-to-be and her finance live in a city other than he parents home town during the wedding festivals. However if family home is not far away, it is proper for the engaged couple to travel there for the
39、 announcement party, Champagne served for toasts for the engaged couples. When the party is essentially a family reunion dinner, the father of the young woman can rise and say, this is such a happy occasion for my wife and me. We wish to announce the engagement of our daughter, Jenny, to the nicest
40、young man in the entire generation, Mr. Edward. If a minister, a priest, or a rabbi is present, he will rise next to bless the couple. If the party is fair larger, the engaged couple and girls parents might form a receiving line. The bride-to-be usually wears her engagement ring officially for the f
41、irst time on this occasion. If she has a gift for the groom-to-be, she gives it to him right before or after engagement party.4.2 Engagement RingIn ancient China and rural areas, the girl can not gain the engagement ring instead of a pair of golden bracelet or a couple of silver earrings given by he
42、r mother-in-law. Traditionally, the golden bracelets and silver earrings are inherited from her mother-in-laws mother-in-laws mother-in-law. In the future, if they have a daughter-in-law, she will give it to her till it is lost or destroyed suddenly, the girl should treasure and cherish it very much
43、. In western countries, for American, the traditional engagement ring is a diamond solitaire. However, today anything goes a ring with many colored stone, a ring with a large semiprecious stone, a heirloom ring reset in a modern design, or even a stone in the brides family, simply reset in a tiffany
44、 setting. The wedding ring will be of the same metal (platinum, yellow gold, or white gold) as the engagement ring. Some women prefer no engagement ring but choose a wedding band instead. No one has to have an engagement ring. A girl may want her fianc to give her a pearl necklace instead, or a jewe
45、led watch. Jeweled ring can be given as gifts on many occasions during their married lives-such as wedding anniversaries, the birth of a child, or an important job promotion.4.3 Girls Reception and Bridal ShowerIn China, the day before wedding ceremony staged in grooms family next day, the brides pa
46、rents should held an etiquette which states that their daughter is going to marry. In this day, brides family should invite a lot of relatives and friends to come to their house and congratulate with gifts. Bride parents should display the dowry to everyone, the relatives and friends, especially fem
47、ale, focus on it and evaluate it. Generally, if the bride is born in a high-heeled family, so her parents will give hers more, oppositely, she will receive less. On the other hand, the groom should go to the brides house with certain gifts. On the etiquette, the groom should toast to these relatives and friends and call their respected names under the guide of a certain person who is familiar with these relatives and friends, there is an obscure customs that
