关于各国婚礼的英语论文.doc

College English Intercultural Communication Final PaperA comparative study on wedding customs among different countries ABSTRACT： Marriage is a bringing together. It is a bringing together of two people, of two families, or two tribes, or two villages, or even two countries. Marriage is that powerful. Marriage is not something to be entered into lightly. Marriage is a pledge meant to last a lifetime. Since the marriage is so sacred,the wedding is of course important.Now,the paper will study the wedding customs among different countries.Key words：wedding customs, different countries.INTRODUCTION:NO.1 The wedding customs in ChinaAs we all know, different countries have different wedding customs. When it comes to Chinese traditional wedding customs, we may think of many complicated customs etiquette. In ancient China, After riding in the red bridal bride, the groom rode in front, with the matchmaker, and the Bridal teams to groom the family weddings. Both parents sit on the court, while the bride and groom were married the next hall. The whole wedding presided over by the master of ceremonies, under the command of his , a bride and groom preparing for the wedding, and worshiped Diocese, then husband and wife worship, into the bridal chamber. Today,more and more weddings in China are western,however, the theme of Chinese wedding is remaind.At first, Red is central to the wedding theme of China. It signifies love, joy and prosperity and is used in a variety of ways in Chinese wedding traditions. The bride's wedding down is often red, as are the wedding invitations, and wedding gift boxes or envelopes for cash gifts. Even the bride and groom's homes are decorated in red on the wedding day. Second, before a Chinese bride wedding celebration, she traditionally goes into seclusion with her closest friends. This Chinese custom gives the bride-to-be some time to symbolically mourn the loss of her friends and family. Some time before the couple are married, the groom's family carries wedding gifts in red baskets and boxes to the bride's house. One of the baskets will contain "uang susu" or 'milk money'. Others will contain personal things for the bride, so that on her wedding day all of her personal belongings will be in the groom's house. The bride takes the gifts to another room where they are sorted through. Three days before the wedding day, women from the bride's family reciprocate, bearing gifts - including some 'returns'- in red wrappings to the groom's family. In addition, Wedding anniversaries in China are carefully chosen according to astrological signs. It is also customary for couples to be married on the half-hour or their wedding day rather than at the top of the hour. In this way, the couple begins their new lives together on an 'upswing', while the hands of the clock are moving up, rather than down. On the morning of his wedding day, the groom is symbolically dressed by his parents. The groom arrives at the house of his bride on the way to the wedding chapel. He brings gifts of cash, wrapped in red tissue, to give to his bride's friends, in exchange for 'letting her go'. In some families, the wedding couple serves tea to both sets of parents while kneeling in front of them. a symbolic gesture of asking for permission. The bride and groom then leave for the wedding site together. Usually,the wedding ceremony is usually attended only by the couples' immediate families. Just after the ceremony and before the wedding reception, the bride who honors tradition will serve tea to her in-laws in a formal ceremony. The couple will usually go to a professional studio for wedding pictures before they proceed to their reception. The wedding reception, an elaborate standing only affair. A welcoming speech is usually performed by an MC who is hired for the occasion. The speech is followed by a cake cutting ceremony. The traditional wedding cake is immense, with many layers. The layers symbolize a ladder that they couple will 'climb to success', so couples will cut the cake from the bottom and work their way up. The cutting of the cake is the only event of the reception. The bride and groom feed each other a piece of cake with arms entwined, trying not to destroy the bride's elaborate makeup. A piece is then cut for each of the parents and for the grandparents, who are fed by the bride and groom holding the cake together. Sometimes a wedding toast is given and guests are invited to greet the newlyweds and their parents. Musical entertainment, which ranges from a simple keyboard player to a symphony or orchestra, accompanies the receiving line It is customary for guests to shake hands again before leaving the reception. At more elaborate Chinese weddings, a sit-down reception may feature a 9 or 10 course meal as well as musical entertainment. Chinese brides often change outfits at least three times during the reception. NO.2 Some other countriesIn Asia,in addition to China,the wedding in South Korea is also ceremonious. Before a Korean bride may be married, she must take part in the traditional Introduction ceremony, where she is accepted into the groom's family. After the Korean newlyweds have exchanged their wedding vows, the groom, formally, introduces his new wife to his parents. The groom's father may throw red dates at his daughter-in-law to bring her luck in fertility.In addition to these, South Korea also have their own characteristics .A couple getting married in Korea might incorporate ducks or geese into their wedding ceremony. Both ducks and geese mate for life and represent faithfulness.At one time, a man who wanted to get married in Korea, would travel to his future bride's home on a white pony and present her family with a pair of geese. NO.3 Typical delegate: AmericaSimilarly, in the other side of the ocean-The United States Wedding Traditions are different from Asia.The United States has few wedding traditions that are totally unique to the U.S.  Virtually all U.S. wedding traditions and customs have either been taken directly from a wide range of other countries and cultures primarily European or they have evolved from traditions in other nations. There are a few things that all U.S. weddings have in common.  To begin with, U.S. wedding ceremonies may be either religious or civil.  Most brides prefer a large and rather elaborate ceremony if it is their first wedding .Marriages are not “arranged.”  A typical U.S. wedding takes place between two people who have sought out a partner and have found someone whom they believe they can share their life with.  In other words, in the United States marriages are based on LOVE.  They are not arranged to strengthen family business or influence. In addition,old wedding traditions may have held that a prospective groom had to ask the brides father for his blessing, but that tradition is seldom respected any longer, if it was ever respected to a wide degree in the U.S.  While a young man and a young woman hope that both sets of parents will give their blessing to a union, and often a blessing will be asked more as a courtesy than for an actual blessing, such a blessing is not required or always sought. Wedding planning can be elaborate and time-consuming and many brides today opt to have a professional wedding planner take care of the thousand-and-one details of the glorious day.  A Traditional United States wedding is a fairly large and elaborate affair, especially when it is the first wedding for the bride.  Traditionally the bride wears a while wedding dress and white wedding veil.  Prior to the wedding itself, it is traditional for the Maid of Honor to throw a bridal shower as part of the bridal ceremonies.  During the bridal shower the bride-to-be will receive small gifts, often of a humorous nature, often gifts for use on the honeymoon. While a religious setting, such as a church, synagogue or mosque is not mandatory, the more traditional U.S. weddings do take place in a religious setting.  Family and friends are formally invited.  Ushers seat guests, there are brides maids, a best man, flower girls, a ring bearer, music (often chosen by the bride and/or the groom) and many other amenities designed to make the day special and memorable. The traditional ceremony itself is often conducted by a religious leader known to the bride and/or the groom.  The ceremony may include wedding vows written by the bride and the groom, in which they speak of their love and their desire to make their partner safe, happy and secure, and to be faithful to their partner and their partner alone for the rest of their lives.  As the couple leave the church they are often showered with rice or wheat (symbols of fertility) and the couple is then taken to a home, restaurant or other facility where a wedding reception takes place.  Speeches and toasts are given to the new couple, wishing them every happiness.  Mean while,gifts are an important part of the U.S. wedding tradition.  Gifts are given to help the new couple establish a new home together; often gifts of cash are given.  A couple may “register” at a specific store where their gift needs are tracked.  This allows well-wishers to not only purchase gifts that are truly useful to the new couple, but to also be assured that no one else has purchased the same gift. Following the reception the couple traditionally goes on a honeymoon, during which their marriage is consummated.  A honeymoon may last from several days to two or more weeks. Couples who do not wish to go through the stress of an elaborate traditional wedding ceremony may choose to elope.  An elopement involves much less work and much less preparation.  The couple merely goes to a justice of the peace and is quietly married in a civil wedding ceremony.  They may or may not include a small number or friends and/or family. NO.4 ConclusionAfter having a comparative study on wedding customs in different countries, we may have a clear understand about different culture.it is the difference among cultures that make the different wedding custom. Therefore, when we have chance to attend these wedding, we shouldnt be surprised at it; instead, we should respect for it and try to enjoy it.REFERENCE:1.婚俗简史 作者：潘晓梅 出版社：中国社会科学出版社 出版日期：2004-5-12.中国婚俗文化作者：中国婚俗文化编委会编 出版社：外文出版社 出版时间：2010-09-015. 书名：Wedding Planning & Management : Consultancy for Diverse Clients 出版： Burlington, MA : Butterworth-Heinemann, c2007. 著者：Maggie Daniels and Carrie Loveless 索书号：2-2008 K891.22 D1863.班驳陆离的婚俗作者：李大龙 著 丛书名：世界民族知识丛书 出版社：中央民族大学出版社 出版时间：1999-02-016.书名：The New Jewish Wedding 出版：New York : Simon & Schuster, c2001著者：Anita Diamant 7.席晓，浅谈中西方婚礼文化差异，读与写4. 书名：Vera Wang on Weddings 出版New York, NY : HarperResource, c2001. 著者： Wang, Vera.8.韩芳 中西传统婚俗之比较 中国校外教育9. 潘文晋 从中西婚礼文化看中西方文化差异 今日南国