Changes

83:4.2 [[Magic]], [[ritual]], and [[ceremony]] surrounded the entire life of the [[ancients]], and marriage was no exception. As [[civilization]] advanced, as marriage became more seriously regarded, the [[wedding]] [[ceremony]] became increasingly pretentious. Early marriage was a [[factor]] in [[property]] interests, even as it is today, and therefore required a [[legal]] [[ceremony]], while the [[social status]] of subsequent [[children]] demanded the widest possible [[publicity]]. [[Primitive]] man had no [[records]]; therefore must the marriage [[ceremony]] be [[witnessed]] by many [[persons]].

83:4.2 [[Magic]], [[ritual]], and [[ceremony]] surrounded the entire life of the [[ancients]], and marriage was no exception. As [[civilization]] advanced, as marriage became more seriously regarded, the [[wedding]] [[ceremony]] became increasingly pretentious. Early marriage was a [[factor]] in [[property]] interests, even as it is today, and therefore required a [[legal]] [[ceremony]], while the [[social status]] of subsequent [[children]] demanded the widest possible [[publicity]]. [[Primitive]] man had no [[records]]; therefore must the marriage [[ceremony]] be [[witnessed]] by many [[persons]].

83:4.3 At first the [[wedding]] [[ceremony]] was more on the order of a [[betrothal]] and consisted only in [[public]] notification of [[intention]] of living [[together]]; later it consisted in [[formal]] eating together. Among some [[tribes]] the parents simply took their daughter to the [[husband]]; in other cases the only [[ceremony]] was the [[formal]] exchange of presents, after which the bride's [[father]] would present her to the groom. Among many http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] peoples it was the [[custom]] to dispense with all formality, marriage being consummated by [[sex]] relations. The red man was the first to [[develop]] the more elaborate [[celebration]] of weddings.

83:4.3 At first the [[wedding]] [[ceremony]] was more on the order of a [[betrothal]] and consisted only in [[public]] notification of [[intention]] of living [[together]]; later it consisted in [[formal]] eating together. Among some [[tribes]] the parents simply took their daughter to the [[husband]]; in other cases the only [[ceremony]] was the [[formal]] exchange of presents, after which the bride's [[father]] would present her to the groom. Among many [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant Levantine] peoples it was the [[custom]] to dispense with all formality, marriage being consummated by [[sex]] relations. The red man was the first to [[develop]] the more elaborate [[celebration]] of weddings.

83:4.4 Childlessness was greatly dreaded, and since barrenness was [[attributed]] to [[spirit]] [[machinations]], [[efforts]] to insure [[fecundity]] also led to the [[association]] of [[marriage]] with certain [[magical]] or [[religious]] [[ceremonials]]. And in this [[effort]] to insure a [[happy]] and [[fertile]] marriage, many [[charms]] were employed; even the [[astrologers]] were consulted to ascertain the [[birth]] stars of the contracting parties. At one time the [[human]] [[sacrifice]] was a regular feature of all [[weddings]] among [[Wealth|well-to-do]] people.

83:4.4 Childlessness was greatly dreaded, and since barrenness was [[attributed]] to [[spirit]] [[machinations]], [[efforts]] to insure [[fecundity]] also led to the [[association]] of [[marriage]] with certain [[magical]] or [[religious]] [[ceremonials]]. And in this [[effort]] to insure a [[happy]] and [[fertile]] marriage, many [[charms]] were employed; even the [[astrologers]] were consulted to ascertain the [[birth]] stars of the contracting parties. At one time the [[human]] [[sacrifice]] was a regular feature of all [[weddings]] among [[Wealth|well-to-do]] people.

83:4.6 [[Fire]] and [[water]] were always [[considered]] the best means of resisting [[ghosts]] and evil [[spirits]]; hence [[altar]] fires and lighted candles, as well as the baptismal sprinkling of [[holy]] [[water]], were usually in [[evidence]] at weddings. For a long time it was customary to set a false wedding day and then suddenly postpone the [[event]] so as to put the [[ghosts]] and spirits off the track.

83:4.6 [[Fire]] and [[water]] were always [[considered]] the best means of resisting [[ghosts]] and evil [[spirits]]; hence [[altar]] fires and lighted candles, as well as the baptismal sprinkling of [[holy]] [[water]], were usually in [[evidence]] at weddings. For a long time it was customary to set a false wedding day and then suddenly postpone the [[event]] so as to put the [[ghosts]] and spirits off the track.

83:4.7 The teasing of newlyweds and the pranks played upon [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeymoon honeymooners]] are all [[relics]] of those far-distant days when it was [[thought]] best to appear miserable and ill at ease in the sight of the spirits so as to avoid arousing their [[envy]]. The wearing of the bridal veil is a [[relic]] of the times when it was considered [[necessary]] to [[disguise]] the bride so that [[ghosts]] might not recognize her and also to hide her [[beauty]] from the gaze of the otherwise [[jealous]] and envious spirits. The bride's feet must never [[touch]] the ground just prior to the [[ceremony]]. Even in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century twentieth century] it is still the [[custom]] under the [[Christian]] [[mores]] to stretch carpets from the carriage landing to the [[church]] [[altar]].

83:4.7 The teasing of newlyweds and the pranks played upon [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeymoon honeymooners] are all [[relics]] of those far-distant days when it was [[thought]] best to appear miserable and ill at ease in the sight of the spirits so as to avoid arousing their [[envy]]. The wearing of the bridal veil is a [[relic]] of the times when it was considered [[necessary]] to [[disguise]] the bride so that [[ghosts]] might not recognize her and also to hide her [[beauty]] from the gaze of the otherwise [[jealous]] and envious spirits. The bride's feet must never [[touch]] the ground just prior to the [[ceremony]]. Even in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century twentieth century] it is still the [[custom]] under the [[Christian]] [[mores]] to stretch carpets from the carriage landing to the [[church]] [[altar]].

83:4.8 One of the most [[ancient]] forms of the wedding [[ceremony]] was to have a [[priest]] [[bless]] the wedding bed to insure the [[fertility]] of the [[union]]; this was done long before any [[formal]] wedding [[ritual]] was [[established]]. During this period in the [[evolution]] of the marriage [[mores]] the wedding guests were expected to file through the bedchamber at night, thus constituting [[legal]] [[witness]] to the consummation of marriage.

83:4.8 One of the most [[ancient]] forms of the wedding [[ceremony]] was to have a [[priest]] [[bless]] the wedding bed to insure the [[fertility]] of the [[union]]; this was done long before any [[formal]] wedding [[ritual]] was [[established]]. During this period in the [[evolution]] of the marriage [[mores]] the wedding guests were expected to file through the bedchamber at night, thus constituting [[legal]] [[witness]] to the consummation of marriage.