A comparison of the traditional wedding custom between China and the West

姚曉雯

【Abstract】There are huge differences between China and the west in social customs， among which wedding custom is a representative one. Wedding system is a kind of social system contained in any culture， thus wedding customs of different nations have been formed under different historical backgrounds. Chinese and western wedding customs have their own characteristics influenced by cultural differences， this paper mainly makes an analysis of differences between traditional wedding customs between China and the west and the causes from several aspects so as to help readers have a better understanding of Chinese and western cultural differences.

【Key words】wedding custom； China and the west； cultural differences

1. Introduction

There are great differences between Chinese and western cultures both in natural conditions and social factors， and wedding custom is a kind of cultural form contained in Chinese and western cultures， thus studies of Chinese and western wedding customs can promote a deeper research of Chinese and western cultures. This paper makes a comparison of the differences between Chinese and western wedding customs from three aspects， namely wedding dress， wedding ceremonies and wedding parties. Then it analyzes the causes of these differences， the study is of great importance to help readers better understand cultural differences and promote cross-cultural communications.

2. Differences between Chinese and Western Wedding Customs

Wedding is the most important part for all the people in any culture， which is a kind of system owned by all humans. Although there is no difference in peoples attention to wedding and marriage， there are still many differences between Chinese and western wedding customs due to different historical and cultural backgrounds， thus the following part analyzes their specific differences from aspects of wedding clothes， wedding ceremonies and wedding parties.

Differences between Chinese and Western Wedding Clothes

It is known that color red represents happiness and pleasure in China， thus red is used as major color of Chinese traditional wedding clothes. In traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies， bridegrooms are decorated with a big red flower on their chests. Brides usually wear red Chinese style wedding dresses， and their faces are covered with red bridal veils， which mean their future life will be happy like red fires.

However， wedding dresses in western countries are pure and romantic. Bridegrooms wear black swallow-tailed coats in traditional wedding， and brides wear white yarn-made dresses with a piece of white yarn covering on their heads to show beauty and purity of brides and their sincerity for god.

Differences between Chinese and Western Wedding Ceremonies

Chinese wedding ceremonies are mainly composed of two parts in traditional wedding custom， namely fetching brides and performing formal wedding ceremonies. Bridegrooms are accompanied with groomsmen to go to home of brides， bridegrooms should firstly show their thanks to brides parents， then brides are sent to the bridegrooms wedding ceremonies in big flower sedans. The second thing is to perform traditional wedding formal ceremonies at the most auspicious time under the guidance of elders. Parents of brides and bridegrooms will give them red packets or jewelries as wedding gifts to show their blessings and love. Traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies are complex and rites-oriented under the influence of Confucian culture.

Western people believe in Christianity， thus their wedding ceremonies are mostly held in churches， which are hosted by priests or clergies， and procedures of western wedding ceremonies are not changeable. Brides， bridegrooms， their parents， relatives and friends come to churches at time on the wedding day. When the wedding ceremony is beginning， bridegrooms will wait in front of the churches， and brides enter into churches accompanied with their father， who hand over brides to the bridegrooms. Then brides and bridegrooms come to the altar accompanied by groomsman and bridesmaid to make a life-long promise. Wedding ceremonies in western countries are simple and romantic， which are pure and solemn rendered by religious atmosphere.

Differences between Chinese and Western Wedding Parties

Traditional wedding parties in China are also called bridal dinner， namely all relatives and friends will come to enjoy a banquet. Wedding parties are usually held by bridegrooms family， which is grand； they are usually help at noon， which will last for three days. Dishes in traditional Chinese wedding parties are also exquisite， all the dishes have connotations of blessings and happiness such as fish， chicken， four-joy meatballs etc. Seats of guests are also strict brides and bridegrooms will propose a toast to all the guests table by table accompanied by bridesmaid and groomsman， and the guests will express some blessings to them.

Wedding parties are usually held after wedding ceremonies， and they do not pay attention to ostentation. Wedding parties are organized by relatives and friends， namely they get together to hold a cocktail parties on the grassland. Brides and bridegrooms will dance first in the parties， then bridesmaids and groomsmen begin to dance accompanied by friends. Dishes in wedding parties are not fixed， in which red wines， champagnes， fruits and dessert are often included. Wedding cakes are necessary in western wedding parties， which indicate they will have a sweet marriage and happy life.

3. Causes of Differences between Chinese and Western Wedding Customs

Differences between Chinese and western wedding customs are specific reflections of cultural differences， and the causes of differences between Chinese and western wedding customs are discussed in the following aspects.

Differences in Geographical Conditions

China has a vast territory since ancient times， which is located in the interior area of continent， and Chinese culture was formed by long-time occupation of feudal society， thus Chinese culture is conservative. However， western culture has developed from multi-national areas off the coast， thus western culture is relatively open due to rich ocean resources and developed trade.

Differences in Economic Systems

Feudal small-scale farming economy is the foundation of Chinese culture， thus people in Chinese culture are more conservative along with multiplies by relying on lands， and features of farming culture also shaped Chinese peoples moral， peace and stable styles. However， western culture belongs to marine culture with developed nomadic herding commercial industries， therefore western people have more exploration spirit and western culture also becomes more open. This also shaped independent， free and equal styles of western people， and this is also a major cause of differences between Chinese and western wedding customs.

Differences in Values and Religious Beliefs

Influenced by Confucian thoughts， Chinese people pay more attention to ethic moralities and modesty， thus they respect elders and love the younger， they are collectivism-oriented. However， western pursue freedom， independence and equality under the influence of Christianity thus they prefer to express their ideas and they are open-minded. This is also embodied in Chinese and western wedding customs.

4. Conclusion

All in all， there are differences between Chinese and western wedding customs in many aspects， and they also have their own characteristics and uniqueness. Along with constant progress and development of global culture as well as frequent cross-cultural communications between China and western countries， wedding customs also changed as an organic part of culture. This paper is a tentative analysis of differences between Chinese and western wedding customs and the causes with the purpose to help people have a better understanding of cultural differences between China and the west， and cross-cultural communications between China and western countries can also be promoted at the same time.

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