Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 289 5th International Conference on Education, Language, Art and Inter-cultural Communication (ICELAIC 2018) The Comparison of Chinese and Western Marriages with Analysis on the Relevant Causes Jingguang Li Faculty of Foreign Languages Huaiyin Institute of Technology Huai’an, China 223003 Abstract—As we know, different countries have different cultures, and it is the different cultures that lead to the II. THE DIFFERENCE OF THE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS difference of the marriages in different nations. This thesis BETWEEN CHINA AND WESTERN COUNTRIES mainly talks about the differences of the marriage between First of all, the differences between Chinese marriage and China and the western countries from the following two the Western marriage reflect in the aspect of the marriage aspects: marriage customs and marriage sense. For marriage customs. Because of the cultural difference, there are some customs, this thesis makes a detail explanation from such aspects as marriage color and wedding dress, marriage venue, conspicuous distinctions in the marriage customs between marriage ceremony as well as marriage banquet. And for China and the western countries. To be specific, the marriage sense, this thesis mainly gives an explicit illustration differences are mainly displayed in the following aspects. from these following different angles like the purpose to get married, the decision-making right for the marriage, the A. Marriage Color and Wedding Dress standard for choosing the spouse and the conjugal relationship In China, Red is the main color in the traditional in the marriage. On the basis of the above detailed instruction, marriage. On the wedding day, red lantern is often hung on this thesis makes an analysis on the reasons to bring about the the gate of the house, and the paper cutting with the red difference between the Chinese marriage and the western Chinese character “囍” are put up on the windows. The bride marriage from the three aspects such as cultural and religious with the red wedding dress and a red covering takes the red factors, cultural value factors and family environmental factors. Then the thesis further points out the tendency for the sedan to the bridegroom’s home decorated with the red silk Chinese marriage and the western marriage to influence and and the red couplets. The bridegroom also with the red integrate each other. Finally, it puts forward the viewpoint — groom suit and a red flower in front of his chest rides a horse the marriage in the future will be convenient, colorful and with the bridal sedan following to his home or the wedding individualized; most young men in the world must try their location. The wedding venue is also decorated with the red best to hold their elegant, romantic as well as very spectacular color to establish a kind of atmosphere of happiness and marriages with their imagination and the creativity. fervency. Keywords—difference; the marriage customs; the marriage In the western countries, white is usually the main color sense; causes; tendency in the marriage. On the western wedding, the bride tends to wear the white marriage dress and the marriage house is usually decorated with the white color. As well, the young I. INTRODUCTION couples take the white bridal car to the wedding venue with As we have seen, marriage is the most important thing to the white wedding cake prepared. When the wedding is held all the persons in different cultures, which symbolizes a in the garden and the garden is also decorated with the white turning point of a person’s life and the establishment of a or yellow flowers here and there to build up an atmosphere new family. As a result, marriage has been emphasized by all full of coziness, elegancy and romance. the nations with different cultures, which confirms the diversity of the social customs in different cultures further. B. Marriage Venue Starting with the comparison of the marriage ceremony Another difference of the marriage customs between between China and the western countries, this thesis will China and the western countries lies in the wedding venues. make a detail explication on different aspects of Chinese and In the past, the Chinese wedding used to be held in the western marriage, analyzing some relevant causes which bridegroom’s house with one of the groom’s friends or lead to these differences as well. Through such a comparison classmates hosting their wedding ceremony. Nowadays and the corresponding analysis, we can achieve a further except for some rural areas, most wedding ceremonies are understanding about the social customs of different cultures usually held in a larger restaurant where a special stage will in order for us to make a beneficial communication with the be arranged on the wedding with a special host from the people from different cultural backgrounds, getting along wedding company hosting the whole ceremony. well with each other. Copyright © 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). 762 Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 289 However, the western wedding is often held in the church company. After a series of wedding procedures, the wedding with a priest hosting the whole ceremony. While the young banquet has begun with the friends and the guests talking couples stand on the platform facing the audience, the priest and praising the bride’s beauty or the bridegroom’s will ask them respectively if he or she likes to stay or live handsomeness. with the other one forever whenever she or he become old, ill or poor in the future after the marriage witness makes a During the meal, the bride and groom will go from table speech. Both the bride and the groom will make a definite to table to toast the guests sometimes accompanied by their reply. Sometimes, the western wedding is also held in the parents or their best friends. The guests will also toast the open air usually in the garden where an arch door or a stand bride and groom. In the end, the newly-weds and their will be set up with white or red flowers to establish an parents will stand at the door, expressing their thanks to the atmosphere of coziness and romance. When the wedding guests as they leave. ceremony is nearly over, the bride will throw a bundle of Compared to Chinese marriage ceremony, the western flowers to the audience, it is said that the young person who marriage ceremony is much simpler but more solemn. The gets such a bundle of flowers will be the next to get married western wedding is usually held in the church or in the and others will give the best wishes to him or her. private garden with the priest hosting the whole wedding. When the guests arrive at the church, they will be greeted by C. Marriage Ceremony the ushers, and the guests from the bride’s and the groom’s In the ancient China, the marriage ceremony mainly family will sit separately with the front rows usually reserved referred to three letters and six etiquettes. The Three Letters for family members and close friends. On that day, the bride included the betrothal letter, the gift letter and the wedding tends to arrive at the church in elegant cars, limos, or some- letter, each of which was used in a different ritual of the times carriages for a special effect. The bridal companion marriage. And six etiquettes were made up of six procedures typically comprises the bride and her father, the bridesmaids, in the process of the whole marriage including Proposing the maids of honor and the flower girl etc. Marriage, Matching Birthdates, Submitting Betrothal, When the ceremony begins, the groom and his Presenting Wedding Gifts, Selecting a Wedding Date and groomsmen stand with the minister on the platform, facing Holding a Wedding Ceremony. the audience. When the marriage music sounds, the bride On the morning of the wedding, the bride would be who standing the entrance of the church will walks towards helped by a respectable old woman to tie up her hair with the platform very slowly, accompanied by her father, who colorful cotton threads. Red was widely used as the lucky will gives his daughter's hand to the lucky young man. Then color, indicating fortune and happiness. When the the young couple begin to utter their vows, promising to love bridegroom arrived, the bride, covered by a red head- each other "for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in kerchief, usually cried in the face of her family members, sickness and in health". But from time to time the young showing the reluctance to leave home. Then, her elder couples compose their own words. After that, they start to brother would lead her to the sedan. Usually the groom exchange the rings to symbolize their marriage commitment. would encounter a series of difficulties intentionally set on Finally the minister announces the most important moment: his path before he successfully handled it to be allowed to "I now pronounce you have come the husband and wife. You see his future wife. Upon the arrival of the sedan at the boy's may kiss the bride!" residence, there would be music and firecrackers to create a After the ceremony, the bride and groom will go to a side merry atmosphere. The couple would be led along the red room with the priest and two witnesses, signing the state- carpet, kowtowing three times to worship the heaven, parents issued marriage license in the United States.