Marriage Customs IB English Class

"A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Marriage customs have been evolving since ever to create pleasant and fun traditions that everyone enjoys (Bachelor and Bachelorette party, anyone?) and keeping the history in wedding celebrations that make it special. The marriage evolvement created, through the passing years, three stages which are marriage by force or capture, marriage by purchase or contract and marriage by mutual love. Today we are going to talk about the traditions created during the stage of “marriage force or capture”.

Did you know that “best man” and “maids of honor” where created during this stage? Well, now you do. The best man was originally a fellow-warrior, someone (usually a best friend or someone who was quick with the feet) who would help snatch a woman from another tribe and fight alongside if conflict was to start. Tribes use to be in constant fighting and that’s why the abduction and raped (which means in Latin “to carry off”, you dirty minded) was pretty normal, but when they were in good terms and violence was nowhere to be seen, women where easily exchanged. Bridesmaid’s work was to help the bride-to-be escape and get away from possible suitors or a protective family and marry the groom she liked. They would also wear similar outfits to confuse evil and unpleasant spirits around the wedding ceremony.

So, that’s it for today, next would be marriage by purchase or contract and marriage by mutual love, but I leave you guys with one question, what do you think about best man and bridesmaid costume? “See you” next time.

«A COMPILATION OF CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS REGARDING MARRIAGE.» s.f. Waterfront Wedding Chapel. 25 de August de 2011 <http://www.limarriages.com/customs.html>.

Arranged Marriage IB English

Marriage is a huge step in someone’s life; you’re getting to spend the rest of your life with another human being that’s making the same promise, until death turns us apart. Usually, the one that is next to you is someone you are deeply in love with, someone you know for a while and you felt a connection, but sometimes, mostly in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Japan and India, Bangladesh and some Muslim/Islam countries, you don’t have a clue on who you are marrying and the person you going to spend your whole life with is a complete stranger, and this, my friends, is an arranged marriage.

This kind of tradition it’s not looked good by western society (although there are some arranged marriages in this society, specially with royalty) and it’s criticized by human rights since everyone has the right to choose, specially, who you are sharing your bed. Despite all negative opinions, arranged marriages have a lower degree of divorces (maybe because they come from conservative countries) and they are not all in force action, families try to chose a good partner and someone respectful and honored (like they do in China).  Marriage is difficult, would not know the person you are marrying makes it easier? What are your opinions? 

Source from:

«Arranged Marriage Facts.» Professor's House. 18 de August de 2011 <http://www.professorshouse.com/Relationships/Marriage-Advice/Articles/Arranged-Marriage-Facts/>.

Arranged Marriage Intro

Once upon a time, there was a little, beautiful princes, she dreamed of unicorns, dresses and a prince charming who would love her for eternity. When she turn 18, little princes was told by her parents that she was meant to marry a rich prince who leave far away; she was overjoyed, finally, marry her handsome prince and be more than happy. When the day of the wedding arrived, she got ready and looked like the prettiest princes alive but in her face there was a sign of worry; suddenly she realized “I don’t even know this guy and I’m marrying him? Oh Lord, please get me through this”. As she walked through the corridor she couldn’t help to startle at what her eyes caught; at the end, with the priest, there was an old man, with huge, lumpy belly, cheeks red as blood (was he drunk?) and a forehead full of wrinkles and age freckles. She asked as quietly possible to his father, the king, “where is my prince charming?” and his father answer “THIS is your prince charming” and with a smile on his face, he gave her daughter’s hand to the old man.

An empty land

So, here I’m, dear world, here to let you know my dreams and hopes; for you to read about me, you, everyone; for us to learn together, to share, question, ask, expect; here to understand and talk about anything and everything. An empty land we fill with words and meanings, somewhere only you and I know, where we can just be ourselves. I hope our journey together becomes an interesting pathway full of good humor and heart warm stories and every second we spend together becomes a memory to treasure. It’s just you and me, let’s make it last.