Anda (Argentina): “Having enjoyed many Chinese wedding ceremonies, I started to ask myself questions: Why are Chinese wedding costumes red? Why do the bride and the groom drink cross-cupped wine?”

What’s China really like in the eyes of foreigners? Which parts of Chinese culture are the most attractive? What are their personal experiences while learning Chinese language? Are there any touching stories that happened to them during their stay in China? You will find the answers here. After reading the following stories, don’t you have the desire to pick up your pen and put down something in Chinese about things around you?

Anda (Argentina)

To me, Chinese wedding ceremonies are both festive and mysterious. Once, when I was still in Argentina, I attended the wedding of a Chinese Argentine. In order to bring my blessing to the bride and groom and add to the fun, I had gone out of the way to learn a Chinese song, which I sang on the wedding. Since that was before I started to learn Chinese, my pronunciation of the lyrics was terrible. However, my performance was received with an enthusiastic welcome. From then on, I became a “little star” who could sing Chinese songs and was often invited to sing at Chinese wedding ceremonies. Having enjoyed many Chinese wedding ceremonies, I started to ask myself questions: Why are Chinese wedding costumes red? Why do the bride and the groom drink cross-cupped wine?

In order to perform better and understand Chinese culture, I started to learn Chinese. Now I understand: drinking “cross-cupped wine” is a very significant ritual during a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony. The bride and the groom, each holding a cup of nuptial wine, cross their cup-holding arms and drink from each other’s cup. This is a symbolism for a you-in-me-and-me-in-you kind of love between husband and wife. The red color of the wedding costumes represents a prosperous marriage life.

May all lovers be able to marry, and may everyone have a thriving life.