What is The Difference Between Ancient And Modern Marriages
Interesting Facts From The History Of Marriage
Modern marriage, which is well known to us, has not always been as we know it. Over the centuries, both the marriage ceremony and the institution of marriage itself have undergone many changes.
Marriage was not always a Union and a symbol of love between a man and a woman. For a long time, marriage was a strategic act to preserve power, money, and increase offspring and resources. Many of the wedding traditions that adorn weddings around the world have occurred for a reason, and once either had legal force or had a special ritual and religious character. It is interesting to plunge into the history of such traditions and touch on the past marriage and look at it through the eyes of our ancestors. Here are some of them…
Kiss The Bride And Groom
The fact that after the end of the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom kiss is an integral part of the wedding. But where did it come from? And how old is she? This tradition is rooted in pre-Christian times, in the Roman Empire, when the kiss of the groom was not just romantic, but had the form of a legal "seal of the act". Thus, the act of marriage itself was confirmed.
Incest Of The Pharaohs
Today, some forms of marriage that were considered the norm in the past are prohibited by law and are considered a crime. For example, in Ancient Egypt, the pharaohs not only could, but also had to marry their sisters, daughters, and even grandmothers. This was done to retain power and the throne. As well as the pharaohs, they considered themselves gods and attached great importance to their Pharaonic blood, which should not be mixed with the blood of commoners.
Forms Of Marriage That Go Back To The Past
The modern concept of marriage is the Union of one man and one woman. But this was not always the case. The history of marriage remembers large polygamous families, harems, marriages when a brother was obliged to marry the widow of a brother or sister of a deceased wife, temporary marriages. Such types of marriage are still practiced in some parts of the world and in some tribes, but more and more it goes into the past and remains in the history of marriage as "it used to be so".
A Marriage Without Children Is Not A Marriage
It is surprising that until relatively recently, marriage without children was considered incomplete by the Church and different cultures. A man had the right to terminate a marriage or take another wife if there were no children in the family. The woman was always considered guilty in this case. The current attitude to marriage is radically different from this approach. A lot of families that don't have, don't want, can't have children are happy together.
What About Getting Married After You Die?
In Singapore, there is still a tradition of "marrying the dead". Since the younger brother had no right to marry before the older brother married, if the brother died without marrying, he was married after death. So the younger got the right to marry.
Marriage For Love?
It is even difficult to imagine that love marriage is a fairly new concept. Back in the 19th century, men married without having any feelings for the chosen one. And the chosen one had no right to contradict her parents at all. Also, the selection of a partner was carried out strictly only by parents. Today, with the acquisition of economic freedom and women's rights, young people decide who and when to marry and prefer to live with a person who has feelings for them.
Many traditions and customs of ancient marriages today seem to us either harsh or incredibly naive. Traditions change and go, new ones come in their place, but one thing remains unchanged-the marriage itself, which will never lose its relevance. Marriage and family often become an outlet and fortress of modern man from the stresses and storms of the world. Take care of your relationship!
