用英語說中國家庭生活 第19期:奉茶儀禮
Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony
Lotus seeds and two red dates are used in the tea for two reasons.
蓮籽和兩個紅棗用於奉茶有兩個原因。First, the words “lotus” and “year，” “seed” and “child,” and “date” and “early，” are homophones, i. e. they have the same sound but different meanings in Chinese.
首先，“蓮子”意爲“年”，“籽”意爲“子”，“棗”意爲“早”都是同音字，同音但是不同含義。
Secondly, the ancient Chinese believed that putting these items in the tea would help the newlyweds produce children early in their marriage and every year, which would ensure many grandchildren for their parents.
第二，古時候的中國人相信把這些東西用於奉茶會祝福新婚夫婦早生貴子，保證子孫滿堂。Also，the sweetness of the special tea is a wish for sweet relations between the bride and her new family.
當然，茶的甜度體現了新娘和新家庭的親密程度。On the wedding day, the bride serves tea (holding the teacup with both hands) to her parents at home before the groom arrives.
結婚當天新郎未到之前，新娘在家給父母侍茶（雙手握住杯沿）。She does this out of respect and to thank her parents for raising her.
新娘侍茶是出於尊重以及答謝養育之恩。The tea at this time does not need to have the lotus seeds or dates, and the bride does not need the assistance of a “ lucky woman. ”
這時候的茶不需要蓮子或紅棗，新娘也不需要喜娘的協助。She pours and serves the tea by herself without the groom.
侍茶的倒和奉步驟都是新娘自己完成。Traditionally, after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea (holding the teacups with both hands)，inviting the groom's elders to drink tea by addressing them by formal title, e. g. first uncle or third aunt.
傳統情況下，婚禮結束後，新婚夫婦奉茶（雙手握住杯沿），用正式的頭銜招呼新郎家德高望重的人喝茶，比如第一叔叔或第三阿姨。The general rule is to have the woman on the left side and the man on the right side.
通用法則是女站左男站右。The people being served will sit in chairs, while the bride and groom kneel.
被奉茶的人在椅子上坐好，新婚夫婦跪好。For example, when the newlyweds serve tea to the groom's parents, the bride would kneel in front of her father-in-law, while the groom would kneels in front of his mother.
比如，當新婚夫婦給新郎父母奉茶，新娘會跪在公公面前，新郎就跪在他媽媽面前。The newlyweds serve tea in order, starting with the groom's parents then proceeding from the oldest family members to the youngest,e.g. the groom's parents, then his paternal grandparents, then his maternal grandparents ,then his oldest uncles and aunts, and all the way to his older brother.
新婚夫婦按順序奉茶，從新郎父母開始然後從老到幼，比如，新郎父母，然後爺爺奶奶，接着外公外婆，接着他的大伯和大娘，一直到所有比他大的兄弟。In return，the newlyweds receive lucky red envelopes (“ lai xi，” which means “ lucky”) stuffed with money or jewelry.
作爲回禮，新婚夫婦會得到紅包，裏面裝滿錢或珠寶。The helpers，who are usually women blessed with a happy marriage or wealth and chosen by the fortune teller or bride's mother , also get lucky red envelopes stuffed with money from those being served.
伴娘（被祝福一段好婚姻，由算命師或新娘媽媽選中）也會得到裝有錢和珠寶的紅包以答謝她的幫助。These envelopes are placed on the platter which holds the teacups.
這些紅包放在奉茶用的茶碟上。
