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 Between
November 2000 and November 2001, we traveled from Canada across
six continents to learn about the marriage rituals of different
cultures, getting married ourselves wherever possible.
We come from a young culture of immigrants from all over the
world, each with their own traditions. Our
generation's church ceremony is giving way to commonlaw relationships,
same-sex couples, late-start relationships, single-parent families
and divorce.
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What is the reason for, or the importance of marriage in this
environment? We wanted to experience how and why the
world celebrates weddings, from the oldest cultures, first hand.
With our new experiences and ideas we returned to Canada and
in July 2002 had our ninth, final and legal ceremony- the answer
to our original questions.
Read all about our nine ceremonies below, and feel free to share
your experiences and opinions on our Discussion
Board. |
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We
have been married nine
times! Click on any of our ceremonies below to get the
full story. Ceremonies from other communities are also
included. |
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#1
Adnyamathanha (Australia)
November 23, 2000 |
Are you
getting married in one of the countries listed? Perhaps we
could help you with your ceremony plans. But remember- our
journey was about following our hearts, not the laws, so we
can't help you with legal details. Click on the link at your
right to email us. |
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#2
Shinto (Japan)
December 9, 2000 |
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Ainu
(Japan) |
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#3
Buddhist (Thailand)
December 29, 2000 |
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#4
Iban (Borneo)
January 20, 2001 |
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Hindu
and Tibetan (India)
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#5
Gurage (Ethiopia) April
11, 2001 |
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Orthodox
(Ethiopia) |
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#6
Celtic handfasting (Ireland) July
14, 2001
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#7
Old World Eloping (Scotland) July
28, 2001
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#8
Aymará (Bolivia) October
7, 2001 |
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 Look
for this symbol to watch short MOVIES on our marriage pages!
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Marriage is acknowledged in some form, in all known human societies.
In some it's an elaborate ritual, in some it's only a
public statement before the head of the village. Some cultures
allow for a trial period before the wedding, and some weddings
are arranged. Marriageable age varies; in some cultures, children
are promised for marriage at birth. A dowry, or bride price,
is a common exchange between two families. Religion plays an
important role, whereby gods are called to witness the ceremony
and are given offerings so they will approve of and bless the
new bond.
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marriage |
- the
state of being married
the mutual relation of husband and wife
the institution whereby men and women are joined in a special
kind of social and legal dependence
for the purpose of founding and maintaining a family
- an
act of marrying or the rite by which the married status
is efected, especially: the wedding
ceremony and attendant festivities or formalities
(From
the WWWebster Dictionary, www.m-w.com)
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Every culture has their own way of celebrating the union of
two people. Some interesting features:
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On
October 21, 2000 we spoke with an Elder from the Stuctwesemc
people of western Canada. She shared with us the marriage traditions
of her people, rarely practiced today because of the influence
of the Christian missionaries over the last two centuries.
Parents
arranged the marriages, the decision sometimes taking up to
a year. A big feast and celebration is planned, with food to
last many days. The bride and groom make their own clothing,
the man's usually of buckskin.
During the ceremony, the man and woman make a slit in their
index fingers and hold their fingers together, the drops of
blood soaking into a small piece of buckskin. The man keeps
the skin for the rest of their years together. If the marriage
ends, the skin must be burned. |
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Where would a brick of tea and a large hunk of butter be a good
wedding gift?
If you were the groom's uncle in Tibet
they'd be on your shopping list. |
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"Jumping
the broom" is a custom originating in Africa as symbolic
of jumping the doorway, or threshold from a carefree single
life into the responsibilities of domestic life and a future
together. Join us in Ethiopia
as we explore the Motherland of human community.
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When
a gyspsy novia in Spain passes the silk-scarf virtue
test, the parents of the couple will fall on their knees and
dance with only their upper bodies and arms moving in a dance
of devotion.
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Origins of some North American marriage traditions: |
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Kahlil
Gibran on Marriage
Then
Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, Master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter
your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love
one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of
you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver
with the same music.
Give
your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's
shadow.
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Share
the marriage rituals of your culture with us!
Send email to mail@e-lopers.com
or join our Discussion
Board.
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