An abnormal marriage custom among ethnic Yaos

时间：2006-09-16 07:00:08

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Nanning, Sept. 15 – In China, it is usually the tradition that women move to their husbands houses to start a new life after marriage. For the Yao ethnic1 group in the Bama Yao Prefecture in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous2 Region, however, their marriage custom is just the opposite.

 

When men and women grow to be 18, they start to pay more attention to their appearances and how they dress. There, women look beautiful and men appear handsome. By attending open market fairs, visiting friends or relatives, attending songfests on festivals, or sports activities such as playing spinning, and kicking the shuttlecock, men and women get to know each other and be acquainted3 with each other. This is the beginning stage.

 

After they have got to know each other, they will invite each other to come to their own homes for a visit, so that the two will know more about each other, such as their character, family background, and family financial status. By doing so, they have actually begun dating. On holidays or on farm work days, the woman will invite the man to help her with work on the land, such as ploughing the fields, raking soil, sowing seeds, or harvesting crops, so as to see whether or not her boy friend is a diligent4 person. This is regarded as the most critical time for the woman to make up her mind. After they have got to know each other for a year or two, the two begin to fall in love. At this time, the woman will go out to buy some clothing without telling the man, and she will make a pair of cloth shoes as a gift for him. Receiving the gift, the man will buy bracelets5, hair pins, a rings, earrings6, or a watch as a gift for the woman. These are the tokens7 of love gifts exchanged between the two.

 

After that, the woman will ask a senior member from the man’s family to bring some wine, sugar, or cakes to her house to settle the marriage. The man should go to the woman’s house and announce their marriage to others. After that, the woman will prepare for the wedding. When everything is ready, the woman will let the man come to her house to live with her.

 

When the man goes to the woman’s house to live, he will change to her wife’s surname8 and become the son-in-law in the house. He is treated equally as the other family members, having the same right to use and inherit property in the home and in the village. He can also be elected village head or take other managing positions in the village. He will not incur9 any discrimination in society.

 
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1 ethnic jiAz3     
adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的
参考例句：
  • This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
  • The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
2 autonomous DPyyv     
adj.自治的；独立的
参考例句：
  • They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。
  • This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。
3 acquainted Jfgy5     
adj.对某事物熟悉的，对 某人认识的
参考例句：
  • The students are already acquainted with the work of Shakespeare. 这些学生已经读过莎士比亚的著作。
  • I have heard about your friend but I'm not acquainted with him. 我听说过你的朋友，但同他不熟。
4 diligent al6ze     
adj.勤勉的，勤奋的
参考例句：
  • He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
  • She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。
5 bracelets 58df124ddcdc646ef29c1c5054d8043d     
n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • The lamplight struck a gleam from her bracelets. 她的手镯在灯光的照射下闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • On display are earrings, necklaces and bracelets made from jade, amber and amethyst. 展出的有用玉石、琥珀和紫水晶做的耳环、项链和手镯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 earrings 9ukzSs     
n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子
参考例句：
  • a pair of earrings 一对耳环
  • These earrings snap on with special fastener. 这付耳环是用特制的按扣扣上去的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 tokens 25d7186fe598a394919623186ca325e2     
代币( token的名词复数 )； 象征
参考例句：
  • These tokens are exchangeable for DVDs only. 这些赠券只能换 DVD 盘。
  • The council gives old people free tokens. 委员会发给老年人免费代金券。
8 surname Krvwg     
n.姓；vt.冠姓
参考例句：
  • Her first name is Sheila and her surname is Kane.她姓凯恩，名叫希拉。
  • Wang is a very common Chinese surname.王是一个很常见的中国姓。
9 incur 5bgzy     
vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇
参考例句：
  • Any costs that you incur will be reimbursed in full.你的所有花费都将全额付还。
  • An enterprise has to incur certain costs and expenses in order to stay in business.一个企业为了维持营业,就不得不承担一定的费用和开支。

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