Betrothal
Betrothal is a formal state of engagement to be married. Historically betrothal was a formal contract, blessed or officiated by a religious authority. Betrothal is no longer common beyond some Arab cultures, and in
Judaism. In
Jewish weddings the
betrothal is called ??????? and is part of the
Jewish wedding ceremony.
Typical steps of a betrothal were:
* Selection of the bride
** usually done by the couple's families with bride and groom having little or no input
** this is no longer practiced except in some cultures with old-fashioned traditions , and most of these have a requirement that the bride be allowed at least veto power
Encyclopedia
Betrothal is a formal state of engagement to be married. Historically betrothal was a formal contract, blessed or officiated by a religious authority. Betrothal is no longer common beyond some Arab cultures, and in
Judaism. In
Jewish weddings the
betrothal is called ??????? and is part of the
Jewish wedding ceremony.
Typical steps of a betrothal were:
- Selection of the bride
- usually done by the couple's families with bride and groom having little or no input
- this is no longer practiced except in some cultures with old-fashioned traditions , and most of these have a requirement that the bride be allowed at least veto power
- Negotiation of bride price or dowry
- 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 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 , the betrothal was essentially a 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 medieval Europe, in canon law, a betrothal could be formed by the exchange of vows in the future tense , 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;
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 ,
- 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 usually will apply.
See also
External links
