Photo Credit: Justin Hackworth...you can see more Here:North America:
College daughter calling home....“Mom, he popped the question last night...I'm so excited; he's my Prince Charming!”
Mother is jumping up and down too – her mother-of-of the bride instincts immediately kick in. She is no longer listening as daughter gives minute details of the proposal; mother is thinking of: invitatations, dresses, bridesmaids, refreshments, luncheons, pictures...oh, it's all so exciting and HAPPY!
Daughter is pretty useless in helping to plan wedding as her starry-eyed head is in the clouds. She comes down momentarily when mother insists she pick colors or wedding dress.
BIG DAY arrives at last. Starry-eyed bride and groom gaze lovingly into each other's eyes as new bride contemplates her new life; it's all so exciting and WONDERFUL!
Half way Around the World in Remote Village in Southwestern China:
Tour Guide on bus: “As we enter the village, you will notice the young men sitting around smoking, smiling, enjoying the sunshine. They will do that all day. The women do ALL the work; the cooking, the cleaning, the child care. They know once they are married, that their lot in life is to work all day every day."
Tourist on bus: “But why would the women even WANT to marry under these conditions?”
Tour Guide on Bus: “They don't always want to, but they do what is expected of them. On the day of my best friend's wedding, she did all the cooking for the family...she spent her entire wedding day cooking. She cried the whole day.”
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, two brides/women.....worlds apart.... in so many ways!
NOTE: But, that is not to say that the women living in this little village in China are totally unhappy...their lives/weddings are the results of years of tradition and customs.
Each country's traditions beautiful in its own way.
Those are both great pictures.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious...do they have a high divorce rate?
Your description of the western engagement / wedding made me chuckle. Pretty spot on!
You are right. Each tradition has unique beauty. But I'm glad that many men in America help at home. Poor brides that have to spend their day [and whole life] cooking. That makes me sad for them.
It boggles the mind how women are treated that way. You would think in a country where there are so many more men than women the men would have to shape up to even find a wife to marry them. Old traditions apparently die hard.
ReplyDeleteI've read so many novels about life in China, and always I'm left asking myself how these women survive their culture, the hardships of sometimes excruciating poverty, but most of all how they cope with the disregard that men have for them. My heart goes out to them.
ReplyDeleteSeriously in 10 years when Chinese men are recruiting brides from other countries...it's GOT to change don't you think?
ReplyDeleteP.S. Please bring me back a little chinese orphan girl if you could.