Marriage

“I do.” To Americans those two words carry great meaning. They can even change your life. Especially if you say them at your own wedding. Making wedding vows is like signing a contract. Now Americans don't really think marriage is a business deal. But marriage is serious business.
「我願意」這句話對美國人而言具有重大意義，它甚至可以改變你的生命，特別是當
你在自己的婚禮上說出這句話時，在婚禮中所發的誓言就如同簽訂契約一樣，美國人
並不是真把婚姻當做商業交易，但是，結婚確實是件嚴肅的事情。
It all begins with engagement. Traditionally, a young man asks the father of his
sweetheart for permission to marry her. If the father agrees, the man later proposes to her. Often he tries to surprise her by “popping the question” in a romantic way. Sometimes the couple just decides together that the time is right to get married.
結婚是從訂婚開始，在傳統上，年輕人會請求他的女朋友的父親允許他娶她，如果女方
的父親答應，之後方可向女方求婚。通常男方會試著以羅曼蒂克的方式「蹦出這個問題」
以帶給女方驚喜。有時候雙方會覺得現在結婚正是時候。
The couple may invite hundreds of people or just a few close friends. They choose their own style of colors, decorations and music during the ceremony. But some things rarely change. The bride usually wears a beautiful, long white wedding dress. She traditionally wears "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” The groom wears a formal suit or tuxedo. Several close friends participate in the ceremony as attendants, including the best man and the maid of honor.
雙方可能邀請上百人或者只是一些熟朋友，婚禮的顏色風格，佈置和音樂都由他們自己
決定，但有些事是不太會變的；新娘通常都穿著美麗的白色結婚禮服，傳統上她必需穿
的衣服上包括了：一些舊的，一些新的，一些借來的，及一些藍色的東西。新郎則穿著
正式的西裝或燕尾晚禮服，幾位熟朋友參與婚禮並協助幫忙，包括了伴郎和伴娘。
As the ceremony begins, the groom and his attendants stand with the minister, facing the
audience. Music signals the entrance of the bride’s attendants, followed by the beautiful bride. Nervously, the young couple repeats their vows. Traditionally, they promise to love each other “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.” But sometimes the couple has composed their own vows. They give each other a gold ring to symbolize their marriage commitment. Finally the minister announces the big moment: “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride!”
當典禮開始時，新郎和伴郎和牧師站在一起，面對觀眾，音樂一起，表示伴娘入場，
後面就跟著美麗的新娘。年輕的男女雙方緊張地跟著說出他們的誓言，傳統上而言，
他們會承諾要彼此相愛，「不論好、壞、貧、富、生病時或健康時」，但是有時候，
他們也可能自己編一套自己的誓言，他們互贈金戒指表示結婚的委身，最後牧師宣佈
這重大的時刻：「我現在宣佈你們成為夫妻，你可以親吻你的新娘！」
At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding
cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, punch and
other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition
says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.
在結婚宴會上，新娘新郎向賓客問候．然後切結婚蛋糕並互相餵對方一口。賓客們在
享受蛋糕、飲料及其他的食物時就混在一起交談。之後新娘將捧花投向一群單身女孩
，傳統說接到捧花的女孩會成為下一位新娘。
Almost every culture has rituals to signal a change in one’s life. Marriage is one of the most basic life changes for people of all cultures. So it’s no surprise to find many traditions about getting married... even in America. Yet each couple follows the traditions in a way that is uniquely their own.
幾乎每一種文化都有儀式來表示一個人生命中的改變。結婚對於所有文化的人而言是
最基本的生命改變之一，所以會有這麼多婚禮的習俗就不足為奇了，美國也不例外。
然而每對新人都以自己認為獨特的方式來跟隨傳統。







@Word Bank
vow (n) 誓言
engagement (n) 訂婚
propose (v) 求婚

tuxedo (n) 無尾禮服
best man (n phr) 男儐相
maid of honor (n phr) 女儐相

compose (v) 作曲
pronounce (v) 宣布

mingle (v) 混合、在宴會等場合中彼此交談
punch (n) 酒水等調以檸檬香料的飲料
ritual (n) 典體；儀式

@The Day's Phrase

A winter vacation in Sweden offers more than just snow
到瑞典過寒假不只是玩雪而已Let's go someplace special tonight to celebrate your birthday.
我們今晚找個特別的地方為你慶生吧。

Can I have a non-smoking table by the window please?
可以給我坐在非吸煙區靠窗的座位嗎？

People talk a lot about giving, but isn't receiving important too?
大家在給予方面談的很多，但接受不是也同樣重要嗎？

I'm going to the restroom to wash my hands.
我要去洗手間洗個手。

Can you prepare this dish without MSG?
可以請你這道菜不要加味精好嗎？

Could these hungry high rises be the solution to pollution?
這些飢餓的高樓大廈能解決空氣污染嗎？

We would like two orders of stir-fried vegetables.
我們要兩份炒青菜。

A unique art event with something for everyone
獨一無二的藝術節，滿足每個人的需求

I'm so full; can you finish this for me?
我好飽；你可以幫我把這吃完嗎？