The Ritual Of Marriage Essay - 1419 Words

Marriage is universal; in fact, all cultures have social or legal contracts that join two or more people in matrimony. The ritual of marriage is religious to some individuals, signifying a divine covenant with another, while to others marriage is a secular contract. This particular ritual has fluctuated between the two throughout generations and cultures. Historically, these matrimonial contracts solidified alliances and were frequently arranged by entire families or even nations. While these matrimonial alliances are still widely practiced throughout the world today, a majority of marriages in western countries espouse for other reasons. Whether Americans marry for procreation, wealth, or love, the rituals that dramatize the important themes in our modern society have evolved into a multibillion dollar industry. The economically fortunate often hire wedding planners to organize an extravagant ceremony, dinner, and party envious to all attendees. Alas, even those on tight budgets wil l spend well above their means for a beautiful and memorable night. While many couples dramatize the themes of love, family, and celebration, the ritual of matrimony has progressed into an increasingly elaborate affair. Contemporary brides show heightened desire to have perfection on their special day, desperately seeking the most beautiful dress, unique decorations, and an unparalleled ceremony and reception. This dramatizes modern themes in American society of competition, individuality, socialShow MoreRelatedThe Sacred Ritual Of Marriage1366 Words   |  6 PagesRituals can be described as an outward expression of inward intention (Rituals, Rites and Festivals, n.d.). Rituals have a prominent role in today’s society as they enable people of all religions to communicate and form a stronger connection with their God or Gods (Rituals, Rites and Festivals, n.d.). Over the years rituals have evolved because society’s values have changed and modern culture has had an inf luence on them. The sacred ritual of marriage in Catholic Christianity and Hinduism, whileRead MoreMarriage Rituals in India and United States1993 Words   |  8 Pages Marriage can be defined as the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife (Webster’s Dictionary). Although this definition of marriage is common in many different parts of the world, the way people decide who to marry varies greatly. The selection process used to decipher who to spend the rest of their life with is a daunting task and most people go about it differently. In the United States, love is what most people think is the majorRead MoreEssay about Marriage Rituals Hinduism and Muslim1169 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage is a significant social event in contemporary society. It is a means of building new bonds between two individuals and their subsequent families. The foundations of memorable weddings are built on those that bring often-distan t family and friends together for the occasion, while dressed in their most sophisticated attire, surrounded by elegant flowers, a night of dancing, captured through the lens of an exceptional photographer. Although Hinduism and Islam are two extremely distinctive religionsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The Judgement Of Paris And Greek Marriage Ritual1922 Words   |  8 PagesHelen’s â€Å"Judgement of Paris† and Greek Marriage Ritual in Sappho 16, an article written by Eric Dodson-Robinson from Johns Hopkins University, explores how Homer’s writings and Greek marriage rituals feed into the meaning of Sappho’s sixteenth fragment. Primarily through exploring the parallel roles of the characters in Sappho’s fragment and Homeric tales, Dodson-Robinson begins to decipher what is beautiful in Sappho’s eyes. Exploring the subjective role of Helen in the poem, the author revealsRead MoreBlood Wedding By Federico Garcia Lorca1485 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1930s Spain, the ritual of marriage became highly controversial as the 1931 Constitution allowed for divorce to be legal. This caused debate between older and younger generations. The elders of society still had their beliefs deeply rooted in the views of the Catholic Church-, which did not allow for divorce. Nonetheless, the younger generation was more prone to giving into desire and therefore was more open to the idea. The play Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca insinuates the strong importanceRead MoreHindu Weddings1444 Words   |  6 Pagesspectacular photography and many other grand decorations are the foundation of a Hindu marriage. Hindu marriages, like most other cultural wedding ceremonies, are deeply concerned with their religious rituals and customs. Most ceremonies in the Hindu culture are family oriented with great emphasis on entertainment and inspiration. Also, off course, the amount of decorations and the extent to which the rituals are carried out dep ends greatly on the class of the families in society. Wealthier familiesRead MoreRites Of Passage, By Arnold Van Gennep1547 Words   |  7 PagesRites of passage are rituals or events which are universally conducted for a variety of cultural, religious and social reasons. Grounded in everyday life, ritual is symbolic and emotional providing a transition of knowledge, behaviour and status, as Audrey Richards’s wrote, ’the use of symbols in ritual secures some kind of emotional compromise which satisfies the majority of individuals who compose a society and which supports its major institutions’ . These rites of passage, rituals or life cycles canRead MoreEssay On Rites Of Passage1505 Words   |  7 PagesRites of Passage are â€Å"rituals that mark a person passage from one identity to the next† (Robins, Cummings and McGarry 2016, 61). Marriage is the 15th and most important rite of passage in a Hindu’s life (Holme and Bowker 1994, 72). This rite of passage is known as â€Å"vivaha† and the rituals conducted during the ceremony vary from each region in India. â€Å"Satpadi† translates to â€Å"Seven Steps† and is the final ritual of the â€Å"vivaha†. This occurs during the marriage ceremony of one s life where the brideRead MoreDefinition Of Marriage On The Church And Beyond Essay1349 Words   |  6 PagesDEFINITION OF MARRIAGE Bibliographic Resource: Gary H. and Woolverton A. â€Å"Marriage Ministry by Design: Designing Effective Ministry to Marriages in the Church and Beyond† Bloomington: WestBow Press, (2012) 4. Annotation: Gary and Woolverton defined marriage as an agreement between one man and one woman that joins their lives legitimately, financially, inwardly, and physically. It can be characterized further as a social union between individuals that makes family relationship. HISTORY BibliographicRead MoreArgument Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesMarriage: Prep-Course for Sikh Faith Sikh marriage is not merely a physical and legal relationship but is a holy union between two souls where physically they appear as two individual bodies but in fact are united as one. However, with each new generation more South Asian children adopt modernized beliefs and choose a different style of getting married, as opposed to common marriage at the temple. The course would be a valuable resource to prepare couples for marriage and orient them toward