On Differences between Chinese and Western Marriage Customs.docVIP

On Differences between Chinese and Western Marriage Customs 　　Abstract：　As　it　is　known，　there　exist　many　distinctions　between　Chinese　and　Western　marriage　customs.　This　paper　is　to　discover　the　different　customs　between　Chinese　and　Western　marriage　and　analyze　the　reasons　for　the　distinctions. 　　Key　words：　marriage　customs；　culture；　difference；　tradition 　　1.　Introduction 　　In　almost　each　culture　people　have　the　custom　of　holding　weddings.　Marriage　customs　in　different　countries　and　nations　contain　their　own　cultural　and　national　features.　Marriage　customs　in　China　are　quite　distinct　from　those　in　English-speaking　countries　in　the　west.　This　paper　aims　at　the　differences　between　Chinese　marriage　and　Western　marriage　customs　by　contrasting　their　traditional　marriage　and　tries　to　explore　the　reasons　causing　the　differences. 　　2.　The　differences　between　Chinese　and　western　marriage　customs 　　2.1　the　difference　in　procedures 　　China　is　a　vast　country　with　various　marriage　customs　in　different　areas.　But　in　general　Chinese　people　follow　six　procedures　in　traditional　marriage，　namely，　proposing，　asking　the　name，　asking　for　fortune，　sending　betrothal　present　to　girl’s　family，　discussing　date　of　marriage　and　meeting　the　bride.　Compared　with　Chinese　marriage，　Western　marriage　is　simpler　and　there　are　a　few　standard　customs　acknowledged　as　being　traditional：　proposal，　engagement，　choosing　the　day　and　holding　the　wedding. 　　2.2　the　difference　in　dressing 　　In　China，　the　groom　is　traditionally　dressed　in　a　long　gown，　red　shoes　and　red　silk　sash　with　a　red　silk　ball　in　the　shape　of　flower　on　his　chest.　The　bride　is　also　in　red　with　her　head　covered　in　red　veil.　The　white　wedding　gown　is　the　most　popular　dressing　among　western　people.　However，　this　was　a　tradition　until　Queen　Victoria　（1840）　in　her　long　white　wedding　dress　impressed　the　westerners. 　　2.3　the　difference　in　marriage　media 　　In　ancient　China，　matchmaker　was　essential　because　marriage　without　matchmaker　wa