Firecracker Wedding.

In 1988-89 I took up an assignment in a closed area of China's
Guangxi Province. There, in the County of Yishan I lived and worked as
the only foreigner, teaching in the English department of Hechi
Teachers' College.* In those days Yishan had a population of about half
a million people most of whom lived in very traditional life-styles.
Very few had ever been face-to-face with a foreigner.

During my stay there I was given the opportunity to take part in a
range of historical and cultural events. For example, I was invited to
the Provincial Capital (Nanning) to be a special guest of the
government at a sumptuous banquet to celebrate the Chinese National
Day: an annual event on 1st October. There I met a host of provincial
big wheels, including the Governor of Guangxi Province and the head of
the Education Ministry.

I also had the pleasure of being invited by one of my English
Department colleagues to a traditional Chinese wedding celebration.
This invitation gave me a chance to compare at first hand the
differences between the Chinese and Western ways of arranging such an
important occasion.

In a traditional area such as Yishan, local custom ordains that the
suitor should ask the family of his bride-to-be for their daughter in
marriage. Consent being given, the two families meet to decide on a
mutually convenient date for a public celebration. The couple then
applies to the local authorities for a certificate of marriage.

I was invited to the celebration by my friend and colleague, Ling Zhi
Fa. He had been officially married for some months, but wanted friends
and relatives to celebrate with him and his new wife, Lan Li Mei (in
China the woman retains her maiden name when she marries). All members
of the English Department were invited and each of us contributed to a
gift. Armed with our gift and an enormous bundle of firecrackers we
arrived at their apartment, but before we entered we attached the
firecrackers to a long pole and let them off. We then made a grand
entry to the deafening roar of the fireworks to be met by Ling and Miss
Lan!

Inside we were offered traditional drinks (Chinese rice wine) and the
couple did the rounds of their guests, offering us candy, sunflower
seeds and fruit. This was done in the traditional way, the bride
carrying the offerings and the groom bowing with hands clasped.

Drinks were then served, this time the local version of Coke and
Chinese tea. After that it was customary to engage in "free talk" which
included the usual jokes about honeymoons and a bit of harmless
leg-pulling aimed at the happy couple. Then it was time to go.

On the way out we were invited to make a traditional inspection of the
nuptial bedroom. All the presents were laid out on the double bed and
in the background were Chinese characters symbolising "double
happiness" just above a magnificent wedding photograph.

This happy occasion occurred towards the end of my academic year there
and was, for me, a memorable and educational experience.

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? Patrick Talty 2003, All Rights Reserved.

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