By Anneli Ruffus

王志强 译注

黄席群 校

    Weddings in the united Stated vary as much as the people do. There are church weddings with a great deal of fanfare 1 ; there are civil weddings with little ceremony; there are weddings on mountaintops with guests in barefeet; and there have been weddings on the ocean floor with oxygen tanks for the guests. But many weddings, no matter where or how they are performed, include certain traditional customs.

    在美国的国土上居住着形形色色的人，他们的婚礼也千差万别。有热闹庄重的教堂婚礼；也有从简办理的各种民间婚礼；有的婚礼在山顶举行，客人们光着脚陪伴登高；有的婚礼在海底举行，客人们戴着氧气罐跟着入水。但很多婚礼不管在哪儿举行或怎样举行，都有某些传统的风俗。

    Since early Roman time, June has been a popular month for weddings. Some people even think June was named for Juno the Roman goddess of marriage. Whatever the reason, June remains a favorite month for weddings.

    从罗马时代早期起， 6 月已是风行结婚的月份了。甚至有人认为，“ 6 月”这个名字源于罗马婚姻女神朱诺的名字。无论何种原因， 6 月一直是人们最喜欢的结婚月份。

    Before a couple is married, they become engaged. In many cases, the man will give the woman an engagement ring as a token of their agreement to marry. In the past, the man would go to the woman's father and ask for her hand in marriage. The father would then decide to give the man permission to marry his daughter or not. Today, the decision to marry is made by the couple. They will first tell their parents about the engagement and later their friends and relatives. Engagement announcements also will appear in local newspapers.

    一对男女成婚前，要先订婚。男方往往会给女方一枚订婚戒指作为婚姻承诺的信物。以往，男方会去女方父亲那儿求亲。女方父亲这时就要决定是否允许男方娶走他的女儿。现今，由男女两人自己决定。他们会先给父母讲明订婚的事，然后通知亲友。一般还会在当地报约上刊登订婚启事。

    Three to four weeks before the wedding, invitations are mailed. Invitations are sent to those who live nearby and are expected to attend. It is considered an honor to receive an invitation. Invitations are also sent to close friends and relatives who live too far away to attend the wedding. Everyone who receives an invitation is expected to give a gift. People who live far will send money. Those who live close will give china, silverware or something for the couple's house.

    请帖要在举行婚礼前三四个星期发出去。请贴送给住在附近并期望来参加婚礼的人。收到请贴一般被认为是件荣耀的事。请帖也寄给远方不能来参加婚礼的好友和亲戚。每个收到请帖的人都理应送份礼物。住在远方的会寄钱来；住在附近的会送瓷器、银器或小两口儿成家后用的东西。

    Traditional wedding attire 2 for the bride is a long white dress. The style may be simple or elaborate and the material could be muslin 3 , satin or lace 4 . The groom may wear a business suit or a tuxedo 5 depending on how formal the wedding is.

    新娘的传统服装是白色长礼服。礼服的款式可以简单，也可以是精心制作的。面料可以是细棉的、缎子的，或是镶有花边的网眼织物。新郎可以穿日常服装，也可穿无尾礼服，视婚礼的庄重程度而定。

    The bride and groom each choose attendants to stand with them during the ceremony. The number of attendants ranges from one to twelve each for the bride and groom. The usual number is two to four. The bride's most important attendant is called the “maid of honor”. The groom's is called the “best man”. The attendants attire is coordinated with the colors of the wedding. The women usually wear long dresses and the men business suits or tuxedos.

    新娘和新郎各自挑选伴娘和伴郎，让他们在结婚仪式中跟自己站在一起。伴娘和伴郎的人数各为 1 至 12 人不等，通常为 2 至 4 人。新娘的最主要的那位伴娘叫“女傧相”，新郎的叫“男傧相”。伴娘和伴郎的服饰要与婚礼的颜色一致，女的通常穿女礼服，男的穿日常服装或无尾礼服。

    Flowers are an important part of the decoration. The church or hall is decorated with flowers. When the ceremony is held in a church, the bride will carry a bouquet with her down the aisle. Her attendants will also carry flowers and the groom and his attendants will wear boutonnieres 6 .

    鲜花是婚礼装饰中的重要一环，教堂或婚礼会场要用鲜花装饰。婚礼在教堂举行时，新娘会手持一束鲜花走过通道，伴娘们也手持鲜花相随。新郎和他的伴郎们则佩戴胸花。

    The wedding itself usually lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. After the mother of the bride and the parents of the groom are seated, there is music and a greeting by the minister. Then the wedding march is played and the wedding party enters the church. The bride enters last with her father who will “give her away”. The groom does not take part in the procession, he enters the church from a side door. When the wedding party is gathered by the altar 7 , the bride and groom exchange vows. It is traditional to use the words “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, ★ till death do us part 8 .” In recent years many couples have chosen to write their own vows that are more personal to them. Following the vows, the couple exchange rings, which are considered symbols of the vows, or rather of the couple's commitment to one another. Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is an old custom. People once thought that a vein and nerve ran directly from this finger to the heart.

    婚礼本身通常进行 20 至 40 分钟。新娘的母亲和新郎的父母就座后，开始奏乐，牧师向大家致意。接着奏婚礼进行曲，婚礼队伍进入教堂。新娘和她父亲最后进来，父亲要“把她交给新郎”。队伍中没有新郎，他要从侧门进入教堂。当婚礼队伍聚集到教堂的祭坛前时，新娘和新郎交换誓言。传统结婚誓言是：“从今而后，不论境遇好坏、家境贫富、生病与否，发誓相亲相爱，白头到老。”近年来，很多新婚夫妇喜欢自己写誓言，更切合自己的情况。宣誓过后，二人交换戒指，戒指被当作婚誓的象征物，或更严格地说，是双方互相承担义务的象征。把戒指戴在左手无名指上是一个古老的风俗。人们曾一度认为，血管和神经从无名指直通心脏。

    In the Roman Catholic Church, the thumb and next two fingers represent the Trinity. Hence holding the bride's hand in his, the bridegroom says at the ceremony, “In the name of the Father 9 ,” and touches the thumb; “in the name of the Son,” and touches the index finger; and “in the name of the ★ Holy Ghost,” and he touches the long or third finger; with the word “Amen” he then puts the ring on the fourth finger of the bride and leaves it there.

    在天主教会里，大拇指和与之邻近的两个手指代表宗教中的“三位一体”。因些，在婚礼上，新郎拉着新娘的手说“奉圣父之名”，碰一下大拇指；“奉圣子之名”，碰一下食指；“奉圣灵之名”，碰一下中指；最后说一声“阿门”之后把戒指戴在新娘的无名指上并让它留在那里。

    After the ceremony (which always includes a kiss) the couple is often showered with handfuls of uncooked rice, thrown by friends and family. Rice symbolizes productivity and fertility 11 . Although the throwing of rice continues at most weddings the birthrate is declining in the United States.

    婚礼仪式总少不了接吻一项，仪式后新娘、新郎的朋友和家人经常向小两口头上撒一把把生米。“生米”意味着生儿育女、多子多福。虽然撒生米在大多数婚礼上仍在采用，但是美国的出生率在不断下降。

    After the ceremony there is often a party, called a “reception” where the food is so plentiful that it almost takes the spotlight away from the couple. The kind of food varies, depending on the cultural heritage of the couple, and on the finances and preferences of the bride's family. It is the family of the bride which more often ★ foots the bill 12 for the reception. And a wedding cake sits in a corner waiting to be cut. Tradition is that the bride and groom cut the cake, holding the knife together. The bride and groom often feed each other a piece of cake before serving the guests. The reception gives the wedding guests and opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds.

    仪式过后，通常有个宴会，叫作“婚宴”。婚宴上的饭菜极其丰盛，几乎把人们关注的目光从新娘和新郎的身上吸引到饭桌上。宴会上用什么样的饭菜，要根据新娘新郎的文化传统和新娘家的经济状况和爱好而定。宴会的花费通常由新娘娘家承担。宴会一角摆放着一个结婚蛋糕，等人去切。传统的做法是新娘和新郎一起拿住刀子切开蛋糕。新娘和新郎常常先相互往对方嘴里送进一口，然后再分送给客人。宴会给参加婚礼的客人一个向新婚夫妇祝贺的机会。

    Soon after, the bride stands in the center of the room, often on a chair, and throws her bouquet of flowers to the assembled unmarried women at the reception. Tradition says that whoever catches the flowers will be the next bride. Some women eagerly attempt to catch the bouquet; others shy away. Sometimes the groom throws the bride's garter to the unmarried men. The one who catches it is supposed to be the next groom.

    随后，新娘站到房间中央，通常站在椅子上，把她手中的一束鲜花扔向宴会上聚在一起的未婚女子。传统的说法是。谁抓住了这束鲜花谁就要做下一个新娘。一些女子抢着抓，另一些女子则羞涩地躲开。有时，新郎把新娘的袜带扔向未婚男人们。抓到袜带的人就该是下一个做新郎的人。

    The car in which the couple leaves the church is decorated with balloons, streamers 13 and shaving cream. Tincans are often tied to the bumper. The words “Just Married” are painted on the trunk or back window. The bride and groom run to the car under a shower of rice thrown by the wedding guests. When the couple drives away from the church, friends often chase them in cars, honking 14 and drawing attention to them. The couple now go on their honeymoon which can last several days or weeks.

    新郎和新娘乘坐汽车离开教堂，汽车上装饰有气球、彩色飘带和刮须膏。罐头盒常被拴在汽车的保险杠上，“新婚燕尔”几个字被喷涂在汽车的行李箱或后玻璃窗上。新娘和新郎从参加婚礼的客人撒下的雨点般的生米中跑向汽车。小两口儿开车离开教堂时，朋友们常常开车追他们，按喇叭鸣叫，逗引他们。然后小两口儿去度蜜月，蜜月通常为几天或几周。

    Whatever the traditions may be, all the wedding guests wish the newlyweds a long and happy life together.

    不管是什么样的传统，所有参加婚礼的人都祝愿新婚夫妇共同拥有长久幸福的生活。

    During their honeymoon, the newlyweds enjoy their happy new life every day. A year later a wedding anniversary is celebrated, as is know “paper wedding”. 25 years later it is called “silver wedding”, and 50 —— “golden wedding”. Almost each anniversary takes a symbol, and different kinds of gifts vary with different wedding anniversary. The wedding anniversary gifts are listed in the following parenthises for people to choose from.

    1st —— Paper (negotiable paper such as bonds, currency, as well as books, napkins, stationery, and towels)

    2nd —— Cotton (bedspreads, curtains, draperies 15 , pillows, sheets, shirts, socks, underwear, etc.)

    3rd —— Leather (belts, handbags, luggage, shoes, etc.)

    4th —— Linen (bedsheets, napkins, samplers, scarfs, shirts, tablecloths)

    5th —— Wood (furniture as well as boats and bungalows)

    6th —— Iron (hardware such as pans, nails, locks; wrought-iron furniture, ornamental ironwork)

    7th —— Wool (blankets, robes, rugs, socks, suits, sweaters, underwear)

    8th —— Bronze (bells brassware, bronze objects, gongs, statuary)

    9th —— Pottery (kitchenware, planter's pots, pottery ornaments)

    10th —— Aluminium or tin (kitchenware and ornaments)

    11th —— Steels (automobiles, hardware, recreation vehicles, tools)

    12th —— Silk (casual clothes, scarfs)

    13th —— Lace (bedspreads, curtains, doilies, tablecloths)

    14th —— Ivory (carvings, desk sets)

    15th —— Crystal (crystal sculpture and glassware)

    20th —— China( chinaware and porcelain figurines and tableware)

    25th —— Silver (silver coins and silverware)

    30th —— Pearl (jewelry and mother- of- pearl objects)

    35th —— Coral (jewelry and rare collector's items)

    40th —— Ruby (jewelry)

    45th —— Sapphire (jewelry)

    50th —— Golden (gold coins, gold-plated objects, solid-gold ornaments)

    55th —— Emerald (jewelry)

    60th —— Diamond (jewelry)

    65th —— Diamond- and - gold anniversary (jewelry)

    70th —— Diamond - and - emerald anniversary (jewelry)

    75th —— Diamond-emerald-sapphire anniversary (solid gold dipped in diamonds, emerald, and sapphire chips or stones)

    80th —— (consult your nearest jeweler) —— this is an unusual anniversary and may earn you a place in the Guiness Book of World Records.

    蜜月期间，小两口儿每日过着甜蜜的新生活。一年之后，要庆祝结婚一周年，名叫“纸婚”， 25 年后的结婚纪念叫“银婚”， 50 年的叫“金婚”。差不多每一个结婚周年纪念都有一个象征性的名称，而且不同结婚周年纪念的礼物各不相同。下面括号中所列的礼物可供选择。

    1 周年——纸婚（可兑换现金的票证，如证券、货币；书籍、餐巾、文具和毛巾亦可）

    2 周年——棉婚（床罩、窗帘、衣料、枕头、褥单、衬衣、袜子、内衣等）

    3 周年——皮婚（皮带、手提包、行李箱、皮鞋等）

    4 周年——布婚（床单、餐巾、绣花样本、围巾、衬衣、台布）

    5 周年——木婚（家具、小木船、平房）

    6 周年——铁婚（五金铁器、如铁锅、铁钉、锁头等；锻铁家具，锻铁装饰品等）

    7 周年——毛婚（毛毯、长袍、地毯、袜子、套衣、毛衣、内衣）

    8 周年——铜婚（钟形黄铜制品、青铜制品、铜锣、铜雕像）

    9 周年——陶婚（厨房用陶瓷制品、陶瓷花盆、陶瓷饰品）

    10 周年——铝婚或锡婚（厨房用品和装饰品）

    11 周年——钢婚（汽车、五金制品、娱乐车辆、工具）

    12 周年——丝婚（便装、围巾）

    13 周年——带婚（床罩、窗帘、小布垫儿、台布）

    14 周年——象牙婚（象牙雕刻品、桌上摆放物）

    15 周年——水晶婚（水晶雕塑品、玻璃制品）

    20 周年——瓷婚（瓷器、小瓷雕像、餐具）

    25 周年——银婚（银币和银制品）

    30 周年——珍珠婚（珠宝、珍珠母制品）

    35 周年——珊瑚婚（珠宝和收藏珍品）

    40 周年——红宝石婚（珠宝）

    45 周年——蓝宝石婚（珠宝）

    50 周年——金婚（金币、镀金物品、纯金装饰品）

    55 周年——绿宝石婚（珠宝）

    60 周年——钻石婚（珠宝）

    65 周年——钻石金婚（珠宝）

    70 周年——钻石绿宝石婚（珠宝）

    75 周年——钻石绿宝石蓝宝石婚（纯金制品镶嵌钻石、绿宝石、蓝宝石片或蓝宝石珠）

    80 周年——（请教一下离你最近的珠宝商）这可是不寻常的周年纪念，也许你可以在“吉尼斯世界纪录”上占一席之地了。

    Notes 注释：

    1. 夸耀；喇叭、铜鼓的嘹亮 吹奏声。

    2. 盛装。

    3. 麦斯林纱，平纹细布。

    4. 带花边的网眼织物。

    5. 小礼服，无尾礼服。

    6. boutonniere [ 法 ] 别在钮孔上的花（或花束）。

    7. 祭坛。

    8. 表示祝愿的一种虚拟语气， do 不可换成 does 。 part 是“分离，分手”的意思。

    9. 圣父。

    10. 圣灵。

    11. 多产；能育性。

    12. foot the bill 付帐。

    13. streamer 彩带，彩色飘带。

    14. honk 雁叫；鸣喇叭。

    15. drapery 衣料；布匹；服装。

选自 英语世界—— The world of English