参加中式婚礼的体验
The experience of attending a Chinese wedding
上周三，我的朋友邀请我陪她一起去她妹妹的婚礼。无论中式还是英式，我以前没参加过婚礼。我当然一口答应了！周五晚上我们上了绿皮车（夜车），周六早上到西安市。在火车站，钰宇的姑姑来接我们。钰宇还没买好婚礼衣服，所以我们先去服装店。那时候我亲眼看真正的砍价过程。讲价过程包括她们离开店铺，结果被店主叫回来继续讲价，最后成交。最终，钰宇卖了一件漂亮燕麦色裙子，一件带亮片袖子的上衣，还有一件带粉红色亮片马甲，风格融合了现代和传统的中式礼服.
Last Wednesday, my friend invited me to go with her to her sister‘s wedding. I haven’t yet been to a Chinese nor English wedding. Of course, I said yes. On Friday evening we took the night train and on Saturday morning arrived in Xian city. Yuyu’s aunt collected us at the station. Yuyu had yet bought clothes for the wedding, so we first went to an outlet store. It was then that I saw with my own eyes true bartering. The process of bartering involves them (my friend and aunt) leaving he store only to be called back by the shop owner to continue debating. In the end, they struck a deal. Finally, Yuyu bought a beautiful cream skirt, a shirt with sequins and a pink Majia (traditional waistcoat), the style being a mix of modern and traditional Chinese dress.
接着，我们开车前往到富平县。富平是一个人口约75万的县，是新郎的故乡，（也是习仲勋的故乡）！周六下午，我们见到钰宇的父母。晚上去了新浪家，一起吃饭。新郎父母住在富平县周围的农村。对我来说，这特别有意思，因为是第一次亲身体验中国农村的生活。新郎家人早早就把狭窄的乡村小路装饰得喜气洋洋，到处都是深红色的装饰。我们进去了新浪家人房子，里面特地为新人布置了一间卧室。卧室里布置得红红火火，有各种寓意吉祥的装饰品，比如水果、干果、春联等，充满了喜庆的氛围。
Then, we drove to Fuping. Fuping is a county with an approximate population of 750,000. It is the hometown of the groom (also the hometown of Xi Zhongxun (the father of Xi Jinping, the Chairman of China). On Saturday afternoon, we met with YuYu’s parents. In the evening, we went to the groom’s home to eat dinner. The groom’s parents live in the countryside and surrounding area of Fuping. This was really interesting for me because it was the first time experiencing life in the Chinese countryside. The groom’s family had already decorated the narrow street, everywhere was a deep shade of red. We entered the house. Inside they had arranged a room for the new couple. The room was decorated all in a fiery red, with all kinds of auspicious decorations, for example fruit, nuts, banners with Chinese character, giving it an great feeling of celebration.
那天晚上，我们跟新人大家庭一起吃饭，差不多有100人，场面热闹非凡。学习中文的时候，你才会正意识到中国家庭很热闹，也会发现中国的亲戚称呼之复杂，令人头大。每个亲戚都有不同的称呼，比如妈妈的姐姐叫“姨”，爸爸的姐姐叫“姑”。当我见到钰宇的亲戚的时候，很难记得谁有什么称呼。7点左右，我们都坐下来，一边吃一边交流。起初，小菜不多，只有五六碟小菜。但服务员链接不断地端上越来越多菜肴。最终，小碗已经堆积如山。我吃了好多：一来饭菜都很好吃，二来钰宇的家人很热情，不停让我尝一尝菜肴。
That evening we ate dinner with the families of the bride and groom. There was about 100 people there with a bustling atmosphere. When you study Chinese, you will learn that Chinese families are lively, you will also realise the names of each family member are really confusing, they can be hard to get your head around. For example, mums older sister is called “yi“ but dads older sister is called “gu”. While meeting all of YuYu’s family, it was quite hard to remember who is called what. At around 7pm, we sat down, we chatted as we ate. At first, there were not many dishes, only 5 or 6 small plates. But the waiters kept on bringing out more and more. In the end, the plates piled as high as a mountain. I ate so much: for one reason because the food was so delicious, the second reason was because YuYu’s family were very enthusiastic, they kept on giving me dishes to try.
第二天，我们就得起床很早。应该7点半我们出发去新娘的酒店。不到8点，我们就到了，她所住的酒店房间，里面早已很热闹，人以已经很多。房间布置很美，以深红色为主调。婚礼的传统习俗正式开始了。第一个习俗是“拦门”，指的是，女方的姑娘都把门挡住，不让新郎轻易进门。新狼和伴郎都尝试进去，为了让姑娘分心，他们向姑娘方向扔小红包。最终，新郎和伴郎进好了。接着，为了证明新郎爱情的真心，姑娘们通过三个游戏测试新郎。如果新郎或者伴郎答错或输了，就得给姑娘发小红包作为“罚金”。
On the second day, we had to wake up early. It was around 6 o’clock that we set off for the bride and grooms hotel. It wasn’t even as late as 8am that we arrived, the room that the bride was staying was already bustling with a lot of people. The room was decorated so prettily, with a deep red a strong theme. The first marriage custom started. The first custom was “lan men” (block the door). This refers to the girls on the bride’s side blocking the door, not letting the men from the groom enter. The groom and the men tried to enter, to try and distract the girls, they threw small red envelopes (with money inside). In the end the groom and men successfully entered. Then, in order to prove the grooms true love, the girls tested the groom through 3 games. If the groom or men answered incorrectly, they then had to give a girl a small red envelope acting as a “fine”.
按照传统，证明爱情的真心后，新人就去新郎家。因为我算女方的客人，就没有随行，而是留在酒店，过一会去了大厅。中午，新人回到酒店，大厅中央有摆着一条长长长的舞台。新人出现了，登上舞台，宣布彼此的爱情，并承诺共度一生。我们拍照，就开始吃饭。到下午两点，大家都都吃饱喝足了。我送给了我的红包，祝福新人幸福美满，然后钰宇和她的姑姑一起返回夏安。那天晚上，我们坐了绿皮车，前往北京。周一早上8点半到北京，时间有点紧张，因为10点就需要上课！虽然我累死了，但我心里却十分满足。我很高兴有这么多机会亲身体验中国文化，结识新朋友，还能练习中文。剩下唯一要做的事情就是参加一场英国婚礼！
Following tradition, having proven their love, the new couple then head to the groom’s family home. Because I counted as a guest from the bride’s side, I didn’t go, instead stayed in the hotel. After a while, we went to the hotel ceremonial hall. At midday, the bride and groom returned. In the big hall there was a long stage in the centre. The bride and groom appeared and climbed onto the stage and announced their love for each other. They promised to spend a lifetime together. We took photos and then ate. At 2pm everyone had eaten their fill. I gave my red envelope to them and wished the new wedded couple good fortune and happiness, then I returned to xian with YuYu and her aunt. That evening we took the night train back to Beijing. On Monday morning at 8.30 am we arrived. Time was tight, at 10 am I was to start class! Although I was exhausted, I was feeling very fulfilled. I am very grateful to have so many opportunities to experience Chinese culture, meet new friends and practice Chinese. I just have one thing yet to do, go to an English wedding!