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Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame *[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1831] ==Definitions== *1. engagement to be married *2. a mutual ...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Arnolfini.jpg|right|frame]]
*[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1831]
==Definitions==
*1. engagement to be [[married]]
*2. a [[mutual]] [[promise]] to marry
==Description==
'''Betrothal''' is [[promise]] that a [[marriage]] will take place. In [[societies]] in which premarital [[sexual]] [[relations]] are condoned or in which consensual [[union]] is common, betrothal may be unimportant. In other [[societies]], however, betrothal is a [[formal]] part of the [[marriage]] [[process]]. In such cases a [[change]] of [[intention]] by one of the parties is a serious matter and may be referred to as a breach of promise, a [[civil]] transgression subject in some instances to a fine or other [[penalty]]
Historically betrothal was a [[formal]] [[contract]], blessed or officiated by a [[religious]] [[authority]]. Betrothal was binding as [[marriage]] and a [[divorce]] was [[necessary]] to terminate a betrothal. Betrothed couples were regarded legally as [[husband]] and [[wife]] - even before their [[wedding]] and [[physical]] [[union]]. In [[Jewish]] weddings the betrothal is now generally part of the Jewish [[wedding]] [[ceremony]], and is known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erusin erusin] or kiddushin; it is accomplished when the groom gives the bride the ring or another object of at least nominal [[value]].
Typical steps of a betrothal were:
* Usually done by the couple's [[families]] with bride and groom having no input.
:This is no longer widely practised, with the exception of a small number of cultural communities (e.g. limited groups of conservatives in Israel, India), and most of these have a requirement that the bride be at least allowed [[veto]] [[power]].
* [[Negotiation]] of bride price or [[dowry]]
:In [[modern]] [[practice]] these have been reduced to the [[symbolic]] engagement ring
* [[Blessing]] by clergy
* Exchange of [[Vows]] and Signing of [[Contracts]]
:Often one of these is omitted
* [[Celebration]]
The exact duration of a betrothal varies according to [[culture]] and the participants’ needs and wishes. For adults, it may be anywhere from several hours (when the betrothal is incorporated into the [[wedding]] day itself) to a period of several years. A year and a day are common in neo-[[pagan]] [[groups]] today. In the case of child marriage, betrothal might last from infancy until the age of [[marriage]].
The [[responsibilities]] and [[privileges]] of betrothal vary. In most [[cultures]], the betrothed couple is expected to spend much time [[together]], learning about each other. In some historical cultures (including colonial North America), the betrothal was [[essentially]] a [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_marriage trial marriage], with marriage only being required in cases of conception of a child. In almost all [[cultures]] there is a loosening of restrictions against [[physical]] contact between [[partners]], even in cultures which would normally otherwise have strong prohibitions against it. The betrothal period was also considered to be a [[preparatory]] time, in which the groom would build a house, start a [[business]] or otherwise prove his readiness to enter adult [[society]].
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Europe medieval Europe], in canon law, a betrothal could be formed by the exchange of [[vows]] in the [[future]] tense ("I will take you as my [[wife]]/[[husband]]," instead of "I take you as my wife/husband"), but [[sexual intercourse]] consummated the vows, making a binding [[marriage]] rather than a betrothal. Although these betrothals could be concluded with only the vows spoken by the couple, they had [[legal]] implications; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_of_England Richard III of England] had his older brother's children declared illegitimate on the grounds their [[father]] had been betrothed to another woman when he married their [[mother]].
A betrothal is [[considered]] to be a 'semi-binding' [[contract]]. [[Normal]] reasons for invalidation of a betrothal include:
* [[Revelation]] of a prior commitment or [[marriage]],
* [[Evidence]] of infidelity,
* Failure to conceive (in 'trial marriage' [[cultures]]),
* Failure of either party to meet the [[financial]] and [[property]] stipulations of the betrothal contract.
Normally a betrothal can also be broken at the behest of either party, though some financial penalty (such as forfeit of the bride price) usually will apply.
[[Category: Anthropology]]
*[http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/19th_Century 1831]
==Definitions==
*1. engagement to be [[married]]
*2. a [[mutual]] [[promise]] to marry
==Description==
'''Betrothal''' is [[promise]] that a [[marriage]] will take place. In [[societies]] in which premarital [[sexual]] [[relations]] are condoned or in which consensual [[union]] is common, betrothal may be unimportant. In other [[societies]], however, betrothal is a [[formal]] part of the [[marriage]] [[process]]. In such cases a [[change]] of [[intention]] by one of the parties is a serious matter and may be referred to as a breach of promise, a [[civil]] transgression subject in some instances to a fine or other [[penalty]]
Historically betrothal was a [[formal]] [[contract]], blessed or officiated by a [[religious]] [[authority]]. Betrothal was binding as [[marriage]] and a [[divorce]] was [[necessary]] to terminate a betrothal. Betrothed couples were regarded legally as [[husband]] and [[wife]] - even before their [[wedding]] and [[physical]] [[union]]. In [[Jewish]] weddings the betrothal is now generally part of the Jewish [[wedding]] [[ceremony]], and is known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erusin erusin] or kiddushin; it is accomplished when the groom gives the bride the ring or another object of at least nominal [[value]].
Typical steps of a betrothal were:
* Usually done by the couple's [[families]] with bride and groom having no input.
:This is no longer widely practised, with the exception of a small number of cultural communities (e.g. limited groups of conservatives in Israel, India), and most of these have a requirement that the bride be at least allowed [[veto]] [[power]].
* [[Negotiation]] of bride price or [[dowry]]
:In [[modern]] [[practice]] these have been reduced to the [[symbolic]] engagement ring
* [[Blessing]] by clergy
* Exchange of [[Vows]] and Signing of [[Contracts]]
:Often one of these is omitted
* [[Celebration]]
The exact duration of a betrothal varies according to [[culture]] and the participants’ needs and wishes. For adults, it may be anywhere from several hours (when the betrothal is incorporated into the [[wedding]] day itself) to a period of several years. A year and a day are common in neo-[[pagan]] [[groups]] today. In the case of child marriage, betrothal might last from infancy until the age of [[marriage]].
The [[responsibilities]] and [[privileges]] of betrothal vary. In most [[cultures]], the betrothed couple is expected to spend much time [[together]], learning about each other. In some historical cultures (including colonial North America), the betrothal was [[essentially]] a [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_marriage trial marriage], with marriage only being required in cases of conception of a child. In almost all [[cultures]] there is a loosening of restrictions against [[physical]] contact between [[partners]], even in cultures which would normally otherwise have strong prohibitions against it. The betrothal period was also considered to be a [[preparatory]] time, in which the groom would build a house, start a [[business]] or otherwise prove his readiness to enter adult [[society]].
In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Europe medieval Europe], in canon law, a betrothal could be formed by the exchange of [[vows]] in the [[future]] tense ("I will take you as my [[wife]]/[[husband]]," instead of "I take you as my wife/husband"), but [[sexual intercourse]] consummated the vows, making a binding [[marriage]] rather than a betrothal. Although these betrothals could be concluded with only the vows spoken by the couple, they had [[legal]] implications; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_of_England Richard III of England] had his older brother's children declared illegitimate on the grounds their [[father]] had been betrothed to another woman when he married their [[mother]].
A betrothal is [[considered]] to be a 'semi-binding' [[contract]]. [[Normal]] reasons for invalidation of a betrothal include:
* [[Revelation]] of a prior commitment or [[marriage]],
* [[Evidence]] of infidelity,
* Failure to conceive (in 'trial marriage' [[cultures]]),
* Failure of either party to meet the [[financial]] and [[property]] stipulations of the betrothal contract.
Normally a betrothal can also be broken at the behest of either party, though some financial penalty (such as forfeit of the bride price) usually will apply.
[[Category: Anthropology]]