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Chinese food has special
symbolism: Mostly wishes of happiness, longevity, or
fertility. "Double Happiness" word is traditionally displayed
at contemporary chinese wedding banquets. Each half of th
symbol is the standard character for happiness, written "hsi".
Therefore, two "hsi" graphed together represents the wish for the
two young newlyweds to have happiness together. The symbol is
a special chinese character used for marital happiness and not used
in regularly.
Tea, alcohol, and 7-up are
almost always supplied at Chinese banquets. Offering tea is a
sign of respect. Alcohol is served to celebrate the special
occasion. In chinese going to a dinner banquet is synonymous
to going to drink alcohol and in Cantonese to go drinking literally
means go to a bar and "7-Up "sounds like "seven happiness.
"
The number of courses at a
wedding banquet is significant as well as the food served.
Wedding banquets starts with appetizers such as "dragon-phoenix"
plates or cold platters consisting of various sliced meats, and
jellyfish. Soup generally follows the appetizers
followed by carefully
chosen dishes.
Shark's Fin Soup usually
follows the appetizers. Shark's fin soup indicates wealth
because the delicacy is very expensive.
Lobster in Chinese is literally
"dragon shrimp." In a marriage, the dragon symbolized the male
role while the phoenix symbolizes the female role. Red is the
color for happiness, so serving lobster would signify joy and
celebration.
Serving
chicken with lobster at the banquet represents the
balance in the new union. Serving fried chicken would
wish the couple to have a good life because in Chinese "red Chicken"
sounds like "good life." Peking duck may be used.
Serving the dish whole, i.e., with the head and legs, would
symbolize completeness.
Squab (or other
fowl). Squab symbolizes peace. Two squabs are
generally offered to wish the newlyweds peace as they start their
new life together. The fowl is offered whole to
each guest so everyone will also experience a peaceful
life.
Fish. Serving fish would
hope that the couple will experience a life together with
abundance because "fish" sounds like "plentiful" in
Chinese.
Noodles served at the end would
symbolize longevity because noodles come in long strands.
Sweet red bean soup. Serving
dessert probably wishes the newlyweds a sweet life. The hot
sweet red bean soup should contain lotus seeds (lian zi) and a
bark-like vegetable (bak hop) to wish the newlyweds a hundred years
of togetherness.
   
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