1、Marriage and FamilyDefinition Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found.

2、Such a union, often formalized via a wedding ceremony, may also be called matrimony.Polygyny Chinese:一夫多妻 is a form of marriage in which a man has two or more wives at the same time. Usually one wife is the “queen wife” who is accorded a higher status than the other wives and has some authority over

3、 the other wives.The history of polygyny In India It was known to have been practiced during ancient times In the Hebrew Bible It was a permitted practice In the United StatesIt was allowed in the early history of LDS Church In the United Statesa child has more than one motherchild betrothals Chines

4、e:娃娃親 a childs parents arrange a marriage with the parents of a child from another family Arranged marriage Chinese:包辦婚姻 is one in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Information

5、of arranged marriage To some extent,they dont know each other before the matrimony. Arranged marriage is a tradition handed down through many generations. Today, arranged marriage is largely practiced in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh), Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia and East A

6、sia. Priests or religious leaders as well as relatives or family friends play a major role in matchmaking.Free marriage Chinese:自由婚姻 You have the liberty to love and wedlock can go even without love The freedom of marriage and divorce freedom make up the complete meaning of free marriageFlash marria

7、ge Chinese: 閃婚 Or blitz marriage Is the English translation of a Chinese term that originated in the early 21st century to describe a marriage between partners who wed after knowing one another for less than 7 months.Hidden marriage Chinese:隱婚 Hidden marriage is that who have fulfilled the legal pro

8、cedures of the marriage, but dont declare his married status to the public. Many married men and women in the city conceal their marital status,and go out without a ring in their ring fingers, like a noble single going in and out all kinds of places. Naked marriage Chinese:裸婚 Doing without a ring, a

9、partment and car, is becoming more acceptable to young people who want to get married sooner rather than later.American Wedding reception At the wedding reception, the bride and groom greet their guests. Then they cut the wedding cake and feed each other a bite. Guests mingle while enjoying cake, pu

10、nch and other treats. Later the bride throws her bouquet of flowers to a group of single girls. Tradition says that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. When the reception is over, the newlyweds run to their decorated car and speed off. Many couples take a honeymoon, a one- to

11、two-week vacation trip, to celebrate their new marriage.Chinese wedding reception Equivalent to exchanging vows in the west, the couple would pay respect to the Jade Emperor, the family deities, paying respect to deceased ancestors, the bride and grooms parents and other elders, and paying respect t

12、o each other. The Wedding Banquets In Chinese society, the wedding banquet is known as x-ju , and is sometimes far more important than the actual wedding itself. There are ceremonies such as bride presenting wines or tea to parents, spouse, and guests. In modern weddings, the bride generally picks r

13、ed (following Chinese tradition) or white (more Western) for the wedding, but most will wear the red traditional garment for their formal wedding banquets.The family The family is important to people all over the world although the structure of the family id quite different from one country to another. The American family When Americans say family, they mean a