From the traditional customs, the Chinese invited guests, no matter according to the long, honored, the main, the second sitting around the table, the table full of rich food and wine, the host often persuade wine, the guests humbly etiquette to. The Chinese feel that this way of entertaining can reflect the host's enthusiasm and sincerity. In addition, the feast advocates a lively and cheerful atmosphere, pay attention to the face of the scene. The atmosphere is often breathtakingly large and lively.
The more casual form is the master invited on three or five friends, to the home by the hostess fried a few dishes, a little drink. This form of casual banquets do not pay attention to etiquette, do not pay attention to sitting, do not pay attention to the meal, only about the harmony of the atmosphere, the host's enthusiasm, the host and guest conversation. Of course, in recent years, some of the Western banquet forms, such as cocktail parties, receptions, buffets or cold meals will also be transmitted to China, but these are mostly official or units of the organization of the banquet form, the civilian population has rarely been implemented.
Secondly, there is a big difference between Chinese and Westerners in the concept of banquets. Chinese people invite guests to dinner, focusing on the meal itself. The food and wine at the banquet must be colorful. If it can be done, it must be a mountain of delicacies and delicious food. Otherwise, it can hardly be called a treat. The Chinese people's emphasis on the meal itself during the banquet originates from the traditional Chinese values: food is the most important thing for the people; food and color are also important. Food is the first of the four elements of life: clothing, food, housing and transportation.
The concept of food in the West is different from that of the Chinese. Mr. Lin Yutang said that the Anglo-Americans only use "eating" as the fuel for the machine of a living creature, and as long as they can keep their bodies strong enough to resist the infection of germs after eating, everything else is no longer important. Because of this, the food culture of English-speaking countries, especially in terms of cooking, is not only inferior to that of China, but also far inferior to that of France and Italy. Their traditional meals are relatively monotonous and boring. However, they pay more attention to nutrition, and strive for light flavors and balanced meals.
The difference between Chinese and English-speaking countries' banquet customs is also manifested in the banquet etiquette. Both Chinese and Westerners pay attention to the seating arrangements for formal banquets. Westerners use a long table for invitations, with the male and female hosts sitting at opposite ends of the table, and then arranging the seating in the order of the male and female guests of honor and the general guests. The Chinese traditionally use the Eight Immortals Table. The opposite door is the top, and the two sides are partial seats. When inviting guests, the older person, the chief guest or person of high status sits on the upper seat, the male and female hosts or accompanying guests sit on the lower seat, and the rest of the guests sit on the side seats in order. In China, the left is honored and the right is second; the top is honored and the bottom is second; the middle is honored and the side is second. In the West, the right is honored and the left is second. For table rules, Westerners eat with a knife and fork, while Chinese use chopsticks. Of course both knife and fork and chopsticks have their own rules of usage.
Lastly, I would like to mention another major difference between Chinese and Westerners, which is the difference in the atmosphere at the table. In general, the Western table is quiet, while the Chinese table is dynamic. Westerners are usually very active, waving their hands and shrugging their shoulders and other body language. But once seated at the table will concentrate on quietly cutting their own plate of food. Chinese people usually good quiet, once sitting at the table, they will be talking, let each other dishes, persuade wine. The difference between the noise at the Chinese table and the quietness at the Western table reflects the fundamental difference in food culture between the East and the West. The Chinese regard food as the most pleasurable thing in life, so people at the table enjoy the delicious food to the fullest. The hustle and bustle of the table reflects the joy of the diners from the bottom of their hearts. Westerners take food as a necessary condition for survival, they naturally have to comply with certain norms to ensure the normal operation of the machine.