All dressed in red

【趣味英语】春节小知 世界节日（1）Spring

Before getting married，the bride（新娘）at a Hindu wedding ceremony（婚礼）does everything to make sure her wedding day is a lucky one．A holy man studies the horoscopes（占星）of the bride and groom（新郎）to choose the right day of the wedding，so that the marriage will be long and happy．Will the marriage be a happy one if the wedding takes place on Wednesday，or would it be better to wait until the full moon on Friday？After checking all the signs very carefully，he chooses the wedding day．There are the weeks of preparation and excitement that are common to all cultures，then finally，on the wedding day itself，before helping her dress，the bride's sisters and female friends paint her hands and feet with henna（棕红色）．When she's ready，she puts on a red sari（莎丽服），the colour which will bring her good luck，for the marriage．During the ceremony，the groom's relatives place a small mark of red paste（加油脂的面团）on her forehead to show she is a married woman．After decorating the bride with jewels，they cover both her face and that of the groom with a veil（面纱）．And then she is married．During the reception（招待），the guests enjoy a feast of food and drink，while the bride and groom sit together and share their meal．

I．Use before or after＋subject＋verb at the beginning of the first sentence．

1．The Hindu holy man checks the horoscopes．

The Hindu holy man chooses the wedding day．

After the Hindu holy man checks the horoscopes，he chooses the wedding day．

2．Friends and relatives paint the Hindu bride's hands and feet．

The Hindu bride puts on her sari．

3．The groom's relatives cover the bride and groom with a veil．

The groom's relatives decorate the bride with jewels．

4．They arrive at the reception．

They receive the wedding presents．

II．Complete these sentences with during or for．

1．________ the ceremony，they exchange rings．

2．The reception may last ________ two days．

3．Preparations go on ________ several months．

4．________ the reception the couple receives presents．

5．She wears the red mark ________ the rest of her married life．

6．The holy man studies the horoscopes ________ this period．

（答案略）

Kate from Reward