Most every country around the world serves different types of food at weddings.The food is very important in some traditions.Certain foods symbolize a meaning, such as happiness.In this paper I am going to talk about the foods eaten at weddings in China, Morocco, and Italy.
The first country I decided to do research on was China.When a couple in China gets engaged, they send out Chinese biscuits called call cakes.This is an announcement for their upcoming marriage.On the day of the wedding a large 10 to 12 course dinner is prepared for family and friends.Shark’s fin soup is a popular dish at Chinese weddings.The soup normally comes after the appetizer.It symbolizes wealth because it is a very expensive food; normally cost about $150 per quest.Families will go all out for the daughter or son because it is a special event that takes place in their life.Another popular food served is roast suckling pig.The roast suckling pig represents virginity.The groom will put forth the pig to the bride’s family to show his love for their daughter.The family will be very accepting of the groom knowing that he will cherish their daughter for the rest of his life.Peking lobster is another important food at Chinese weddings.The lobster is red and the color red means happiness.The lobster represents joy and celebrations for special occasions such as a wedding.If the lobster is served with the head and the legs still on it then completeness is symbolized.Squab is a pigeon with tender meat that means peace.Normally 2 pigeons are offered to the newlyweds to bring peace for the beginning of their life together.Vegetables with sea cucumbers are also part of the meal.Serving this meal can be a sign of selflessness because sea cucumber to the Chinese traditions sounds like good heart.This would wish the newlywed to think in the same way, which would be to avoid conflict.Lastly, a cake to specially designed and prepared for a dessert at the end of the meal.As you can see, each dish that is prepared in China has some type of meaning that wishes the new married couple good luck in the rest of their lifetime together.
Morocco was the second country I picked to research wedding foods.Fish and chicken are considered the main dish at the wedding party.They are a symbolization of fertility.Tajine is a dish that many family and friends appreciate.It is a chicken stew mixed with almonds, apricots, onions, and other spices that is served with pita bread.A famous marriage soup is also served, it is called dugun corbasi.It is made of lamb meat.Bstilla is another popular dish.This is made from dove, lamb, couscous, almonds, and raisins.Fruit bowls are also bring importance because some Moroccan families grow and sell fruit to other countries in Africa.As a dessert sweets and almonds are served to show the young female that she is welcomed by into the family from her new female relatives.In Morocco wedding preparation for the actual passage can take about seven days and is a feast for the family and friends.
The last country I chose was Italy.Meals are a big part of the Italian lifestyle.They are passionate about food and eating, much of their socializing is done during this time.Just like other countries there is a lot of preparation done for wedding ceremonies.Since Italy is known for pasta there is always some type of pasta at a wedding party.Steak pesto pasta is a common dish served for weddings.Also, a roasted baby pig or lamb followed be wanda, which is bow ties of fried dough dipped in powered sugar is popular in this country.During the dinner, women will sip of marsala wine and men will drink stronger grappa.As a dessert confetti is served.Confetti is sugar covered almonds, which we consider Jordan almonds.The almonds are a representation of the bitter and sweet of life that the newlyweds have in store for them.There almonds sometimes will be thrown at the newlyweds as they leave the wedding party.
China, Morocco, and Italy have their own wedding traditions just like every other country does.Weddings are a special time for people and most of the time there is much preparation for the big wedding day.Foods will be served that have a good meaning and good luck for the newlyweds so that they will have a good life together.
Sources
-Heine, Peter. Food Culture in the Near East, Middle East, and North Africa. London: Greenwood Press, 2004.
-Long-Solis, Janet, and Luis Alberto Vargas. Food Culture in Mexico. London: Greenwood Press, 2005.
-Newman, Jacqueline M.. Food Culture in China. London: Greenwood Press, 2004.
-"Wedding Customs: Traditions From Around the Globe." Wedding Customs. 1997-2009. The Knot Inc.. 23 Mar 2009 .
I think it is very interesting that in China they serve shark fin soup that costs $150 per guest! That would get so expensive! I also think it's cool that they send out Chinese biscuits to people when a couple gets engaged. I have never heard of anyone doing that before. Your paper was very interesting to read and I learned a lot about wedding foods especially the ones in China.
Those shark fins are an example of the "foods of prestige" that we spoke of earlier in class. What is sad to me is that many of these sharks are becoming extinct because of this. Your report was very informative. It would be fun to plan a wedding using different aspects from cultures around the world.
I loved the idea of "dessert confetti," and how the Italians use them to represent the bitter and sweet of life yet to come fot the newlyweds. I did a little research on the sugar coated almonds (Jordan almonds), and I found it very interesting that the Italians will sometimes present flowers made from the almonds, and one made with 5 of the almonds represents a wish for health, happiness, long life, prosperity and fertility.
This was so interesting to read and compare how others cultures celebrate wedding festivals and what kinds of food that they have. It almost makes me want to include some of these traditional dishes at my wedding one day!
Other cultures are so different then i though. Its amazing that China eats a dish that is $150 per guest. It is also amazing how every food that is served has a meaning of why its being served.
I had no idea that there was such meaning for wedding foods around the world. This was very interesting and something that I would like to learn more about. I would love to go to an authentic italian wedding, sounds delicious!
I always feel culturally deprived when I think about some of these traditions. I always love reading new things about other cultures. Like a 12 course dinner to celebrate a wedding? That is amazing to me, that there are still people that take time for tradition in this hectic world. I also like how people have celebration foods that represent values. This would be something I would enjoy further researching.
This is an interesting and unusual topic and I like it. I like the 10 to 12 course meal that they have in Chinese weddings. I like the symbolism behind all the food but don’t like the amount of it that is meat. I liked the welcoming foods in the Moroccan meal. I like the Italian one as well. It seems that almonds are incorporated in a large number of these ceremonies.
I enjoyed reading this and seeing how other cultures celebrate engagements and weddings in their culture. I especially enjoyed the part on Chinese weddings because they had alot of dishes all having a specific meaning. I found it interesting that a lobster served with the head and legs still attached symbolizes completeness.
I found it very interesting that a Moroccan wedding can take up to seven days. Also that almonds are served as dessert. Since almonds are also popular during Italian weddings I wonder if many cultures incorporate them.
I think it is very interesting that in China they serve shark fin soup that costs $150 per guest! That would get so expensive! I also think it's cool that they send out Chinese biscuits to people when a couple gets engaged. I have never heard of anyone doing that before. Your paper was very interesting to read and I learned a lot about wedding foods especially the ones in China.
ReplyDeleteThose shark fins are an example of the "foods of prestige" that we spoke of earlier in class. What is sad to me is that many of these sharks are becoming extinct because of this. Your report was very informative. It would be fun to plan a wedding using different aspects from cultures around the world.
ReplyDeleteI had enjoyed reading about the China wedding and their meaning with food (pig, pigeon, lobster). Good work, lot of information.
ReplyDeleteI loved the idea of "dessert confetti," and how the Italians use them to represent the bitter and sweet of life yet to come fot the newlyweds. I did a little research on the sugar coated almonds (Jordan almonds), and I found it very interesting that the Italians will sometimes present flowers made from the almonds, and one made with 5 of the almonds represents a wish for health, happiness, long life, prosperity and fertility.
ReplyDeleteThis was so interesting to read and compare how others cultures celebrate wedding festivals and what kinds of food that they have. It almost makes me want to include some of these traditional dishes at my wedding one day!
ReplyDeleteOther cultures are so different then i though. Its amazing that China eats a dish that is $150 per guest. It is also amazing how every food that is served has a meaning of why its being served.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that there was such meaning for wedding foods around the world. This was very interesting and something that I would like to learn more about. I would love to go to an authentic italian wedding, sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI always feel culturally deprived when I think about some of these traditions. I always love reading new things about other cultures. Like a 12 course dinner to celebrate a wedding? That is amazing to me, that there are still people that take time for tradition in this hectic world. I also like how people have celebration foods that represent values. This would be something I would enjoy further researching.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting and unusual topic and I like it. I like the 10 to 12 course meal that they have in Chinese weddings. I like the symbolism behind all the food but don’t like the amount of it that is meat. I liked the welcoming foods in the Moroccan meal. I like the Italian one as well. It seems that almonds are incorporated in a large number of these ceremonies.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this and seeing how other cultures celebrate engagements and weddings in their culture. I especially enjoyed the part on Chinese weddings because they had alot of dishes all having a specific meaning. I found it interesting that a lobster served with the head and legs still attached symbolizes completeness.
ReplyDeleteI like how to show is love for his future wife a man will bring give his future wifes parents a pig in China.
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting that a Moroccan wedding can take up to seven days. Also that almonds are served as dessert. Since almonds are also popular during Italian weddings I wonder if many cultures incorporate them.
ReplyDelete