The wedding culture (2)

(resumed)

After around almost 2 hours, when the day was getting dark, the dinner started at the third venue after another 30 minutes driving. Because it is a big party, more than 80 people, the seating were already and guests easily found their seats by finding their names on the table. The newly weds sat with their witnesses and several family members, in the centre of the room. The meal was progressed from the starter, the main dish to the dessert. Between each course, DJ organized a set of programs for guests, including newly weds show and various types of dancing. The most traditional program is “the first dance”. Dancing is a main program in the wedding, and newly weds first started dancing to open the dancing night at the party and then guests joined in. Dancing often starts from Waltz. After that, the music passed to Rock, Salsa, Disco and even Tango, the favourites of young people. Luckily dance is still in my legs after several years since I attended the dancing competition, I got through the party night. Cutting the wedding cake is another traditional program. The newly weds cut the cake first and then guests were invited to share it. A traditional French wedding cake is Piece Montee, but nowadays people are free to choose a cake they like, eg. in the party, the cakes were chocolate ones.


The newly weds are full of romantic spirit. Every detail in the wedding was paid attention, from small programs, eg. breaking champaign glass at each venue, wedding colors...... to the groom's tie knot. The pity is that I could not take all into my camera. Hope these pictures here could extend your imagination.

The time when I got out of the party is already 4am. Exhausted!

The wedding culture (1)

Recently I attended a French wedding at Alsace in the eastern France. The wedding was conducted in a very traditional way (now traditional weddings are almost extinct in those metropolitans) and I recorded this rare occasion here for those who still have the interest in the traditions.

In France, there are two types of wedding ceremonies. The wedding ceremony hold at Town Hall is a civil ceremony. This ceremony is obligatory for every newly weds and it gives the legal recognition of the marriage from the government. The other one is a religious ceremony hold at a Christian church for those religious people. This is optional. Because the newly weds' parents are very religious, they arranged two ceremonies. The civil ceremony was on the morning with the presence of the close family members. The religious ceremony was on the afternoon with family members and invited guests. When I arrived at the church, the car which carried the bride was just approaching with horns sounding.

At 4pm, guests were seated and the ceremony started. With “Bridal March” from Wagner, one extremely traditional wedding music played by an organist, the groom first entered into the church, accompanied by family members. After the groom arrived to the front hall of the church, the bride started to enter into the church, accompanied by her father. At this time, guests were standing to welcome both. The ceremony is guided by the priest. First, the priest gave a talk that conveys his best wishes and the meaning of Christian to newly weds, comprising singings together with guests and a small talk given by family members. Then, newly weds exchange vows ( at this wedding, newly weds read the vows themselves without the participation of the priest) and rings ( the ring is usually kept by a witness. At this wedding, it was kept by a youngest witness, a three years old kid. It was a lovely moment when the little kid stumbled to deliver the rings to newly weds.) The newly weds and the witnesses signed the register so that their marriage is recognized by the church. It also ended the ceremony. With “Wedding March” from Mendelssohn on, guests walked out of the church first and waited for the newly weds. When newly weds came out, guests threw rose petals to them and sent the congratulations to them. The ceremony lasted one hour.

After the ceremony, it was an apperitive at the second venue. After 20 minutes drive, we came to a countryside place. There is a beautiful lake surrounded by nice grassland and trees. Guests were free to enjoy Champagne and Canapies and talked with each other. It is also a moment to take nice pictures for newly weds against nice natural background. I liked this natural view a lot and stole the chance to take many pictures. :P

N/A

Doing research is like taking Roller Coaster: sometimes high, sometimes low. Will it be one day I am at the plateau?

The independence of culture?

Recently a couple from Palestine, very likely only a country where peace has not been landed since its birth, came to the school to say Bye to us, as both of them have finished their PhD here. I know, as their once officemate, what they are awarded today mean so much to them, a couple at the age of forty. They brought us not only deliberately cooked food, but also their four kids and their 80 years old mothers, to say thanks to our support and accompany these years. My impression for that place is a place always filled with bombs and conflicts, people living in hatred. I hardly believed people there have the mood and the time to pursue advanced education. Being with them in the same office opened another side of the world to me. I learned that there is grassland and lively rivers in that piece of land, instead of only desert; the people have their own life, even in very modern style; people like western culture, but very different is that they have their own belief, more than only Islamism; and every one is so closely tied to each own's belief that it is part of their lives, inseparable.

Starbucks in the Forbidden City

Recently I heard from the Internet someone complained that having the Starbucks in the forbidden city is not proper, because Starbucks is one typical symbol of the American culture and opening a starbucks in the symbolic monument of Chinese culture gives a hint of the invasion of western culture into Chinese culture. Someone might say it is a bit over reactive. I could give you one example from my experience of how Americans responded to it.

Several years ago, I took one opportunity to accompany my American friend’s daughter, Kristine, to the Forbidden City. She was very interested in ancient Chinese culture and took pictures everywhere, mostly scenery pictures. When she found out that there was a starbucks there, she was so surprised and told me that she did not expect that she even could have her favourite coffee at her favourite historical place. She especially asked me to take a picture for her in front of the Starbucks. To my surprise, she also liked Chairman Mao much and asked me to take a picture for her in front of the big poster of him. I thought she would hate him because it is Chairman Mao who fought against Americans and built the communism.

My opinion is that if it is allowed to open a business in the Forbidden city, by following the national policy of free market economy, why should we give the foreign brand the discrimination? At least people could have their quality drinks there. I might start caring this issue when the second Starbucks open in the Forbidden City. At least, I still want that place is like a home for Chinese emperors, instead of a White House. That is the main reason people go to visit there.