用英語說中國家庭生活 第20期:喜酒

The Wedding Banquets

喜酒

Generally, separate wedding feasts were given by the parents of the bride and the groom for their respective friends and famities.

一般來說，由新郎父母或新娘父母舉辦的喜酒會單獨分離出來答謝他們的親朋好友。

Even at the feast, men and women sat separately.

甚至酒宴上，男女是分開坐的。

There could be a single feast for each or a series of feasts over several days.

每家有一席酒宴或者幾天都有流水席。

However, the most important feast was that given the groom's family on the day of the wedding.

然後，最重要的那場是婚禮那天男方家庭舉辦的。

It was generally considered as public recognition of the union.

通常被公認爲聯姻。

Chinese food has special symbolism： mostly wishes of happiness, longevity, or fertility.

中國的食物有特殊的含義：大多幸福的祝福，長壽或多子多孫。

The number of courses is also significant.

菜式更是大量的。

At a Chinese wedding banquet, eight dishes are usually served - not including the dessert.

在中國的喜酒上，八道菜是必須的-不包括甜品。

In Chinese, the word “eight” sounds like "good luck. "

在中國“八”聽起來像“發”。

(The words for “nine” and “long” are also homophones, words that sound the same but have different meanings.

（“九”和“久”是同音異義的。

At a birthday banquet, nine dishes are served with noodles at the end.)

生日會上，會上九道菜，最後上長壽麪。）