Marriage
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Marriage
In a world of love as thou wilt, the marriage ceremony seems standard. Be it for love, duty, or politics, the ceremony remains much the same and regardless for your position in life. The only thing that changes is just how big and how extravagent the affair can get. The higher up in society, the greater and larger the event.
Before the Wedding
It all starts with the Betrothal, the posting of the Banns. The announcement of a wedding to come. From a short time before the wedding or a year, the choice it up to the bride and groom. This is not a necessary step, but a traditional one.
In the days leading up to the marriage ceremony, fittings for garments, arranging of the feast, and the arrival of the guests are commonplace. The bride and groom are allowed to relax as best they can and enjoy thier last few days as unattached and enjoy the luxuries of such. The bride and groom are kept apart from one another the night before the ceremony, even if they have previously been with one another so that they may both be suprised upon seeing each other. Another tradition that occurs in the days before the ceremony is the journey of the bride to Eisheth's Temple to light a candle and beseech Eisheth to see fit to open the gates o fher womb and her children. Men do not participate in this part of the ritual.
The men gather to enjoy the grooms 'last night of freedom' with his companions. With nobles this tends to mean a joyus night upon the hills of the night court, and copious amounts of alcohol. For the women, it tends to be with thier close friends and enjoying a last bout of girlishness before they become woman, wife and quite possibly, mother.
The Ceremony
The ceremony is done out of doors, being as Elua's temples are everywhere, where earth meets sky, with a bower above decorated with flowers and when the sun is the afternoon sky. It is presided over by a barefoot priet/ess of Elua and on occasion a Priest/ess of Naamah if the couple ask for such. White is not a required color for the bride to wear, nor for the groom.
There is no processional, but rather the bride and groom meet at the front of wherever the cermeony is being held, beneath the bower with the barefoot priests with clasped hands. The ceremony is started with a kiss between bride and grrom and from there, the Priest/ess of Elua commences. S/he touches the the grounds then lifts thier hand to the sky. Elua's blessing is invoked upon the couple and brows are anointed with oil. If a Priest/ess of Naamah is present, s/he steps forward and anoints the couple and offers Naamah's blessings.
Next come the vows, repeated by the bride and groom after the Priest/ess speaks them, to each other. Once that is done, the priest intones "Let it be done" opening his arms to everyone gathered and the world. "In Blessed Elua's name, I bid you seal this union with a kiss" Thus, the couple are wed. While it's not stated in the books, rings can be exchanged, as it seems to be a standard with the players of the game, a token or indication of the love or binding of one to the other.
The Celebrations
The ceremony is often followed by a celebratory feast either inside, or outside, depending upon the choices of the bride and groom. Friends and family are invited to partake of the feast, Joie is passed around if it can be afforded. Dancing and games ensue until it is time for the bride and groom to take off for thier first night. The guests gather with flower petals, following them all the way to thier literal bedchamber singing bawdy songs, jeering and generally teasing the couple about what is surely to occur.
Foreign Ceremonies
Though not much is known about many of the foreign marriage rituals, some have been revealed throught the books. In Alba, marriage is either binding for a year and one day, a trial marriage, or the traditional till death do you part. They are held in sacred groves and overseen by an Ollahm. A feast happens afterwards, with the entire event happening over a span of a few days. On these days the clan and their lands are safe from raiding by neighbouring clans, out of respect for the holy tradition. Carthaginian marriage rites seem to differ enough in that they do not invoke a blessing for children or fertility.
Marriage Logs
These are roleplay logs of Characters who have been wed in game.
