Chinese Traditions, Words and Idioms Related to "Liquor"

Abstract

Tradition is the customary habits of the society. Liquor has been playing its role in numerous Chinese traditions from individual celebration – such as first-month anniversary, first-year anniversary, wedding, birthday celebration for seniors, and funeral ritual – to public event – such as lunar new year and mid-autumn festival. Significant roles of the spirits in the traditions and rituals have spawned an abundance of expressions about liquor and drinking behaviour, which relatively reflecting ideas, beliefs, practices, custom, society, and culture in the language. The phrasing is used to depict both positive and negative things: celebration, simplicity, moment, astonishment, condolence, friendship, trait, talent, ideology, obsession, desire, addiction, as well as blame. These figures of speech, which have revealed long connection between people and liquor, simply reveals distinguished nature of Chinese culture.