传统饮酒礼节

9　传统饮酒礼节　Some Alcohol Drinking Customs

女儿酒Liquor for Daughters

Nüer liquor(女儿酒)means“liquorfor daughters.”It is said that a long time ago people in ancient South China customarily began making liquor when their daughters were born.After they completed their liquor making，they buried it beneath the bottom of a pond rather than drinking it right away.The liquor was kept there until the day of their daughter's wedding ceremony，when the daughter's parents took out the liquor to entertain guests.

It is said that this kind of wine developed into one of Shaoxing's current local liquors and is called Huadiao Liquor(花雕酒).The container for Huadiao liquor is unique，with varied carved flowers，figures，birds，beasts，and pavilions on mountains or by rivers.During a daughter's wedding ceremony，her parents take out the liquor container，and a painter paints the carved patterns and writes some lucky words like“blooming flowers and full moon(花好月圆)”on the container to convey the parents'sincere wishes for their daughter's happiness.

喜酒Alcoholic Beverages Drinking at a Wedding

Xijiu(喜酒)refers to“alcoholic beverages drunk during weddings.”It is usually synonymous with“wedding ceremony.”If someone will be participating in a wedding ceremony，he/she often says，“I am going to drink xijiu at a wedding ceremony.”

会亲酒Huiqin Toast

The Huiqin toast means“sealing the marriage engagement with a toast.”A dinner or even a banquet is necessary in order to complete a Chinese marriage engagement.The groom and bride's families eat together on this important day.While eating，they toast with alcoholic beverages，indicating that the marriage engagement has been sealed.After toasts，the marriage agreement is in force，and neither side can break off the engagement without serious repercussions.

回门酒Huimen Toast

The second day after the wedding，a newly-married couple is scheduled to return to the home of the married woman's parents.This visit is called huimen，or return visit.On the same day，the married woman's parents usually host the visiting couple with an excellent lunch and liquor that is called huimeng jiu，the alcoholic beverage drunk for their return visit.

交杯酒Jiaobei Toast

Jiaobei toast refers to“a toast with interlocked arms.”This is a traditional courtesy to express sincere love between a husband and wife during their wedding ceremony.The jiaobei toast first appeared during the Tang Dynasty.During the Song Dynasty people often used a colourful silk ribbon to link up two cups.The newly married husband and wife each held the linked-up cups or interlocked their arms for a toast.This custom continues even till today.

满月酒/百日酒Manyue Toast or Bairi Toast

Manyue means“the first month of a newborn baby;”bairi“the first hundred days of the baby.”In China，anywhere between a month and a hundred days after the birth of a baby，the baby's parents usually hold a feast to entertain relatives and friends who come on this occasion.Visitors present gifts and exchange liquor toasts with wishes for the baby's good fortune.

寿酒Longevity Toast

People in China keep up the family tradition of expressing the best wishes to a senior member when his/ her birthday occurs.The key longevity celebration takes place when a senior reaches the age of 50，60 or 70 years old.Usually his/her children or grandchildren hold a feast.Relatives and friends are aslo invited to this banquet.They make toasts for the senior's happy birthday.

上梁酒/进屋酒

Roof-Beam-Placement Toast or New-House Dwelling Toast

In Chinese rural areas，building a new house is a major undertaking for a peasant.One of main procedures when constructing a house is placing beams on the roof of the dwelling.Accordingly，the new homeowner usually provides good food and liquor to entertain all the workmen on the roof-beam placement day.The host exchanges toasts with the workers for the successful beam placement.In some rural areas，a craftsman sprays the beams with alcoholic drinks.

After the house is built the family moves into the new dwelling，the host holds another feast to celebrate the new house's completion.At the same time，the host and his family offer a sacrificial ceremony to please the deities or obtain their ancestors'blessing.

Notes: 1)indicate 表明 2)a newly-married couple 新婚夫妻 3)interlock 使连接 4)courtesy 礼貌 5)ribbon 缎带 6)undertaking 任务;事业 7)procedure 程序 8)construction 建设 9)craftsman 工匠