Describe a traditional(happy) event that you attended.
You should say:
what this event is
when it happens
who participates in this event and what they do
and explain how you feel about this event.
The traditional event which impresses me most is the Chinese traditional wedding.
The red letter date will be picked by the groom's parents. Both the bride and the groom's house will be decorated in red in advance.
The groom's family will send out a precession of servants, entertainers and a carriage which is carried by four servants to the bride's family to bring the bride back. The bride and the groom will worship the heaven and the earth, the groom's ancestors and they will also serve tea to all their superiors in the family. After the meal, the new couple will return to the bridal room and some naughty friends may tag-along and play tricks on the groom. Then, the couple will finally be left with themselves and the groom can take off the red cloth that covers the bride's face. You know in the ancient times, a man may probably marry a woman that he had never met before, that is to say, the first time to see the wife's face was in their bed, which was really exciting.
That's why I found the traditional wedding so interesting. Now more and more young people choose to have a traditional wedding, which means there is a growing trend towards the traditional culture. That's quite delightful.
Part3:Do you know of any differences between weddings in China and those in the West? (第三部分的这个题目出的确实有些难，最近被考到频率却很高。我简单说一下西方教堂婚礼仪式和庆祝方式。这里需要弄清楚的一点：Wedding celebration ≠ Wedding ceremony Celebration: 庆祝 Ceremony: 仪式)
Wedding ceremony 西方教堂婚礼中会有下面的人物:
Groom(新郎) Best man (伴郎) Groomsmen(男傧相)
Bride (新娘) Maid of honor(伴娘) Bridesmaid(女傧相)
Flower girl(花童) Ring bearer(戒童)
Minister(神父)
Usher (引宾员)
① Bride wears white gown & white veil (stands for purity). The bride should also have:
something new
something old
something borrowed
something blue
新娘穿着雪白长裙(white gown)，戴洁白面纱(white veil)，以象征纯洁。同时，新娘穿戴的衣物中必须包括有新的、旧的、借来的和蓝色的四种东西(something new，something old，something borrowed and something blue)。
Something Old 母亲传下来的婚纱，头饰或首饰，代表承受美好的一切。
Something New 朋友送的礼物如裙子，饰物，象征新的生活。
Something Borrowed 可向任何人借东西回来，据说从富裕亲友借来金或银放在鞋内，象征带来财运。
Something Blue 新娘的一些小饰物或花束用蓝色，意味着新娘的纯洁及贞洁。
② With the , the bride's father leads her to the altar. 婚礼开始，伴随着《婚礼进行曲》新娘挽着其父的手臂，缓缓通过走廊向圣坛走去。
③ Music stops… Minister will ask: Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Father: My wife and I do. (Then the bride is given away to the groom.)
音乐停止，神父会问新娘的父亲：是谁允许眼前的这个女人与这个男人结婚的。新娘的父亲会回答：我和我的妻子。之后新娘会被正式交给新郎。
④ 接着，新郎在左，新娘在右，面对牧师站好，由牧师为其举行传统的仪式。内容包括结婚誓言(Wedding Vows)。如：
Wedding Vows: I (name), choose you (name) to be my (husband/wife), to respect you in your successes and in your failures, to care for you in sickness and in health, to nurture you, and to grow with you throughout the seasons of life.
⑤ 之后新郎新娘交换戒指，有时还会说一些交换戒指的誓言。如：
A: This ring is a token of my love. I marry you with this ring, with all that I have and all that I am.
B: I will forever wear this ring as a sign of my commitment and the desire of my heart.
⑥ Throwing rice at the bride and groom as they leave the wedding.
牧师在郑重其事地说完“现在我宣布际们二人正式结为夫妻”之后，仪式结束，新郎新娘于挽手在音乐声中步出教堂，参加婚礼的人们纷纷向他们抛撒米粒祝福：
Wedding celebration:
They cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite.
按照习惯，婚宴(wedding reception)由女方家里举办。在精美漂亮的结婚大蛋糕被搬上餐桌后，新郎新娘要手把手地握住一把刀，共同将蛋糕切开，互相喂对方一口，然后再款待所有的客人。
The bride throws her bouquet of flowers up in the air, the girl to catches the flower will be the next one to get married.
接花束：在婚礼仪式上，新娘背对一群未婚的女孩，然后把她手中的花束向空中抛去，人们相信接住新娘抛来的花束的女孩将是下一位新娘。
The groom throws his new wife's garter belt up in the air, the boy to catches the belt will be the next one to get married.
接吊袜带：在婚礼仪式上，新郎背对一群未婚男士，把他的新婚妻子的吊袜带向空中抛去，人们说接住新郎抛来的吊袜带的男孩将是下一位结婚的新郎。
Two Catchers Meet: The catcher of the flowers and the catcher of the garter belt meet together. The boy then puts the garter belt on the girl's leg slowly. The higher up the leg, the better.
两位分别接住花束和吊袜带的男孩女孩会面：接住新娘抛来的花束的女孩和接住新郎抛来的吊袜带的男孩会面。容然后男孩慢慢把吊袜带系到女孩的腿上，系得越高越好。看到女孩脸上尴尬的神情对于参加婚礼的人们来说是很好玩的事。这只是引人们开怀大笑、无伤大雅的游戏而已。
Tap your glass: Tapping your drinking glass with a knife or fork makes the bride and groom kiss. Do this often if you’d like to see the bride gets embarrassed.
轻敲酒杯：用刀或叉轻敲酒杯，示意新郎新娘接吻。如果你想看到新娘害羞脸红的样子，就可以频频敲杯。
Chinese Wedding 中式婚礼
说媒: match-making
定亲: engagement
聘礼: betrothal presents
迎亲: meeting/fetch the bride
拜堂: three bows
交杯酒: drinking wedlock wine.
黄道吉日: red letter day
花轿: floral sedan chair
一拜天地 First, bow to heaven and earth;
二拜高堂 Second, bow to parents;
夫妻对拜 Third, bride and groom exchange bows.
