英语沙龙：婚礼的习俗与传统

Wedding customs and traditions

The idea of having bridesmaids，pages，a best man and ushers¹ originated with the belief that evil spirits，envious of the couple’s happiness，would be out to harm them，but would be confused by so many similarly dressed people．The custom of the best man probably goes back to the days when the groom² took a friend with him when he went to kidnap the bride from her home．Bells were originally rung at weddings to frighten away the evil spirits，and noisy celebrations were held beforehand to try and drive them from the community．These were the ancestors of our stag and hen parties．

The Ancient Egyptians were probably the first to use wedding rings：in hieroglyphics，the circle was the symbol of eternity³．The ring can also symbolize⁴ the bonds of a captive．

The Hindu ceremony takes place under a canopy⁵ of brocade or some other richly decorated material，festooned with flowers．The bride，wearing a red silk sari，is the first to arrive，but she hides out of sight until the bridegroom，robed in white，has been brought in by his friends and relations．As he enters，lights are waved over his head and grains of rice are thrown，a ceremonial act symbolizing⁶ riches and fertility．

In the Buddhist⁷ ceremony the bride and groom sip⁸ three times from each of three bowls of increasing size to symbolize how their lives will grow together．

In past times it was customary to shower the bride and groom with petals⁹ as they left the church，and for them to walk along a path strewn with flowers．This charming idea gave way in the era of mass production to paper confetti．In some countries，rice is thrown，to symbolize fertility and plenty．Beware，it could hurt if thrown with great vigour¹⁰．

White wedding dresses have been in the forefront of bridal fashion since Queen Victoria broke with the royal tradition of a silver dress and opted¹¹ for white for her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840．

The going－away car is often decorated by high－spirited friends with messages in lipstick¹² and shaving foam，and tied about with balloons，tin cans，and old boots．The“old boot”tradition is an ancient one and stems from the time when the father，on giving away his daughter to the groom，presented him also with one of her slippers¹⁴．This gave the new husband，symbolically speaking，the up per hand，for he was supposed to thrash her with it should she displease¹⁵ him．The slipper¹³ was put at the bed head on his side of the bed to remind his wife w ho was boss．However，if she became the dominant¹⁶ partner，neighbours transferred the power of the slipper to her，and christened her“the old boot．”

In the Jewish wedding ceremony the couple are married under a chuppah，a canopy of s ilk or velvet¹⁷ held up by four posts．This is a relic¹⁸ o f the time when the children of Israel lived in tents．It symbolizes¹⁹ the bridal chamber²⁰．To some it signifies the home the couple will make together；its fragility reminds the couple of their own weakness and the need to nurture²¹ their union in order to ensure its survival．During the ceremony the bride and groom drink wine from the same glass，symbolizing that they will share all things．The bridegroom then dashes the glass to the floor and grinds it under his foot．Some say that this is a reminder²² of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem，others that it frightens off the evil spirits；friends call out muzeltov（good luck）at this point．

婚礼的习俗与传统

婚礼中配伴娘、男童、男傧相和迎宾员的观念源于这样一种信仰，即嫉妒新人幸福的邪恶幽灵会冒出来伤害他们，但如果婚礼上有许多着装类似的人，就能迷惑幽灵。配男傧相的习俗大概要追溯到那种年代，那时新郎往往要带上一个朋友去新娘家把她绑架出来。铃在婚礼上叮当作响原是为了吓走邪恶幽灵，而在婚礼之前举办热闹的庆祝会也是为了把那些邪恶幽灵从新人和他们的亲朋好友中赶走。这就是“雄鹿会”和“母鸡会”的由来。

最早佩戴结婚戒指的大概是古埃及人：在象形文字中，圆圈是永恒的象征。金属环也表示被俘人身上的镣铐。

印度教的婚礼是在一个由锦缎，或其他装饰华丽的布料织成并饰以鲜花的华盖下举行。身穿红色丝绸莎丽的新娘第一个到达，但她得躲起来，等到身着白袍由亲戚朋友相伴而来的新郎出现后，才能露面。新郎进门时，灯火要在他头上挥动闪烁，粒粒大米要撒在他的身上，这种婚礼仪式象征新人福星高照，多子多孙。

在佛教婚礼仪式上，新娘和新郎要啜饮三只依次增大的碗中的水，以象征他们相须而行，风雨同舟。

过去，新娘新郎从教堂走出来时，有往他们身上抛撒花瓣，而新人又需双双沿着一条撒满鲜花的路款款而行的习俗。这一抛撒花瓣的可爱习俗在批量生产的时代被五彩的碎纸所取代。在有些国家，向新人抛撒大米，象征多子多孙，生活富裕。但抛撒大米可得小心，用劲大了，会伤着人的。

１８４０年，维多利亚女王在与艾伯特王子举行的婚礼上，打破了着银色婚装的皇家传统而选择了白色。从那时起，白色婚礼服一直是新娘结婚的首选礼服。

载有新人的轿车往往要被兴致勃勃的朋友们用口红和剃须泡沫涂上几句贺词，并挂上汽球、洋铁罐和旧靴子。挂“旧靴子”是个很古老的传统。很久以前，当父亲把自己的女儿交给新郎时，还要送给新郎一只女儿的拖鞋。从象征意义上来说，这就给了新郎一种主动权：一旦他的妻子让他不高兴，他就可以用拖鞋打她。这只拖鞋放在男人睡觉一侧的床头，提醒他的妻子谁是一家之主。然而，如果女人在家里占了主导地位，邻里们就会把掌握拖鞋的权力移交给她，并给她取绰号为“旧靴子”。

在犹太人的婚礼上，新人在一个由四根柱子撑起的用银丝或天鹅绒织成的华盖（chuppah）下举行仪式。这是在重现以前以色列的孩子们住帐篷的日子。这华盖象征着新房，有人认为这意味着新人携手共建的家；它的摇晃易倒提醒新人要意识到自身的软弱，要珍视他们的婚姻，同甘共苦，以享百年好合。在婚礼上，新娘新郎还要共饮一杯酒，象征着他们要有福同享、有难同当。然后，新郎要把玻璃杯摔在地上并用脚把它碾碎。有人说这是在提醒人们记住耶路撒冷神殿的毁灭；也有人说那是为了吓走邪恶的幽灵；此时此刻，朋友们都要高喊muzel tov（走好运）以示祝福。

1 ushers   

n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Seats clicked, ushers bowed while he looked blandly on. 座位发出啪啦啪啦的声响，领座员朝客人们鞠躬，而他在一边温和殷勤地看着。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• The minister then offers a brief prayer of dedication, and the ushers return to their seats. 于是牧师又做了一个简短的奉献的祈祷，各招待员也各自回座位。 来自辞典例句

2 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

3 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

4 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

5 canopy   

n.天篷，遮篷

参考例句：

• The trees formed a leafy canopy above their heads.树木在他们头顶上空形成了一个枝叶茂盛的遮篷。
• They lay down under a canopy of stars.他们躺在繁星点点的天幕下。

6 symbolizing   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This symbol later evolved into a common hieroglyphic symbolizing victory. 这幕场景后来逐渐演化为象征胜利的普通象形文字。 来自时文部分
• Mooncakes reunion, is symbolizing the Mid-Autumn festival will feed. 月饼象征着团圆，是中秋佳节必食之品。 来自互联网

7 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。

8 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

9 petals   

n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
• The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

10 vigour   

（=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力

参考例句：

• She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情，有朝气。
• At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。

11 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

12 lipstick   

n.口红，唇膏

参考例句：

• Taking out her lipstick,she began to paint her lips.她拿出口红，开始往嘴唇上抹。
• Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics.口红和护发素都是化妆品。

13 slipper   

n.拖鞋

参考例句：

• I rescued the remains of my slipper from the dog.我从那狗的口中夺回了我拖鞋的残留部分。
• The puppy chewed a hole in the slipper.小狗在拖鞋上啃了一个洞。

14 slippers   

n. 拖鞋

参考例句：

• a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
• He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋，倒在床上。

15 displease   

vt.使不高兴，惹怒；n.不悦，不满，生气

参考例句：

• Not wishing to displease her,he avoided answering the question.为了不惹她生气，他对这个问题避而不答。
• She couldn't afford to displease her boss.她得罪不起她的上司。

16 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

17 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

18 relic   

n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物

参考例句：

• This stone axe is a relic of ancient times.这石斧是古代的遗物。
• He found himself thinking of the man as a relic from the past.他把这个男人看成是过去时代的人物。

19 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

21 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。

22 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。