In China, young couples want to get married on special days, such as 1st of May and 1st of October. The first one is world-famous Labour day, the latter one is Chinese-famous National day.
My cousin decided to get married on the 1st of May this year, and I had a chance to participate in his wedding. That's my first Chinese wedding, so I really wanted to be there. After I missed my connection flight (first time in my life) from BJ to XiAn on the 30th, I had to stay in BJ one night and fly on the early morning of 1st of May. It was ok, God had everything settled. The wedding itself was not as solemn nor as orderly as I've gotten used to in Finland. Chinese weddings seem to be filled with people, noise, sounds, hassle, and all these combined creates the atmosphere of Re Nao (热闹), which means "hot noisy". This Re Nao is a must in China and especially weddings, so it was rather enjoyable after all! In addition, wedding food is excellent! :D
Pictures tell more than many thousands of words, so here come some glimpses:
There was a traffic jam on my way from airport to the wedding place. Fortunately the wedding ceremony started after 12, so I managed to get there on time.
The front door of my aunt's home is different than before...
Fire crackers are signaling the arrival of the new couple, and those ones were really loud! The smell they create and the atmosphere, yeah, Re Nao! :D
Decorations make wonders. The arrival was very festival with loud music and the smell of gunpowder still in the air.
The place was crowded with people. Normal thing in China. :) Fortunately this was only beginning of May, can't imagine how sweaty it would be if in July or August.
The wedding feast, yeah, it was delicious! There was more than 15 dishes, probably up to 20! I could sit there forever...
So, I think about the wedding feast mentioned in the Bible, where Jesus and His church gather to celebrate the new heaven and earth. I guess it will be Chinese buffet! :D
