Love and marriage

Marriage customs vary considerably from culture to culture. But at the same time there are common features in wedding traditions observed in many countries of the world.

If a couple decides to get married, the two become engaged and the bride-to-be often receives a ring from her fiancé. Permission from the parents used to be nec­essary; today it is a courtesy to tell the parents first and ask for their blessing or good wishes. Engagements vary in length depending on the circumstances and the cou­ple's preference.

Weddings also vary in style depending on the ethnic traditions of the bride and groom. The bride usually wears a white gown (a traditional sign of purity) with a veil. It is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride be­fore the ceremony on the day of wedding. The groom often wears a formal suit.

In many countries traditional weddings take place in a church. The groom waits at the altar with the best man. Brides-maids walk up the aisle followed by the bride, who is accompanied by her father. A clergyman performs the ceremony. In Britain he usually slips a wedding-ring on the bride's ring-finger. This ring she wears for the rest of her life.

The reception after the ceremony is usually a dinner followed by an evening of dancing. While the guests are seated for the meal, there are speeches and toasts. The bride and groom are expected to stand up and kiss each other.

In Britain, when the ceremony is over, the happy new­ly-married couple and their guests go back to the house, where the lady has been living, to the wedding-breakfast. A highly-decorated "wedding-cake" is usually served, and after the guests have drunk the bride's and bridegroom's healths, the couple takes leave and depart on their hon­ey-moon or to their new home.

In Canada, the bride and groom traditionally cut the first piece of the "wedding-cake" together. Before the wedding-couple leaves the reception, they go to all the guests, thanking them and giving each a piece of wed­ding-cake to take home. The bride throws her bouquet to the unmarried women. The woman who catches it is said to be the next to be married. The groom throws the bride's garter to the unmarried men.

Many people in all the countries prefer civil ceremo­nies. A civil ceremony is a legal rather than a religious rite. Judges or marriage commissioners perform civil wedding ceremonies, and two witnesses are required. Marriages come under provincial jurisdictions.

British customs and traditions on family and marriage

I. Getting engaged

In Britain the custom of becoming engaged is still generally preserved, though many young people do not keep it. As a rule, an engagement is announced as soon as a girl has accepted a proposal of marriage. The girl's parents should be the first to hear the news; in practice, however, it is often the couple's friends who are taken into confidence before either of the parents. If a man has not yet met his future in-laws he does so at the first opportunity, whereas his parents usually write them a friendly letter. Then the girl's mother invites her daughter's future in-laws to a meal or drinks.

When a girl accepts a proposal, the man generally gives her a ring in taken of the betrothal. It is worn on the third finger of the left hand before marriage and together with the wedding ring after it. Some people arrange an engagement party, and among the better-off people it is customary to put an engagement in the newspaper.

The period of engagement is usually short, three or four months.