Assignment 6 - Marriage

Assignment 6 Marriage

According to the reading by Julian Sanchez pp: 313-320 in your Risman text:

1) Identify one of the examples of ancient marriage described by the author and discuss how it differed from the "one man, one woman idea" of marriage

According to the Risman text, Sanchez expresses an example of marriage from the medieval period as a way of keeping peace between families or committing to a partnership.  This idea was not just for families of wealth, it was also the way marriage was handled with the peasants.  It differs from the “one man, one woman” concept since the marriage primarily dealt with the families and landownership as a whole.  The couple whom were to marry needed to include a much broader perspective of their future and what inheritance would be brought to the table. 

2)  Among which two groups has postponing marriage become the most likely? Why?

There are two groups who are most likely postponing marriage; the poor and middle-class during current times.  In the case of low-income women, Sanchez discusses (on page 318) that these women are worried about financial dependence when it comes to marriage.  They feel that there needs to be a financial stability between the partners prior to marriage.  However, Sanchez points out that even though these low-income women are postponing marriage, they are not postponing bearing children.  They have access to birth control but may not exhibit responsible actions to prevent pregnancies.  As for the middle class, women especially, are focusing on higher education and the rise in cohabitation.

Then watch this clip from Sex and the City

Fast forward to Charlotte's wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxntUnp78xw

List all the wedding traditions in the clip.

Wedding traditions in the video clip include:

~Engagement photos

~Groom not to see the bride in the dress prior to the wedding day.

~Rabbi officiates the wedding.

~Witnesses to the marriage as individuals then as one. (kallah/chatan – bride/groom).

~Bridal party/Groomsmen

~Bride and groom sip from the kiddish cup under the chuppah.

~Exchange of the rings.

~Breaking of the glass.

~Kiss the bride.  Mazel Tov!!

Choose one tradition and do a little research on-line - what is the history behind that tradition.

Write about a paragraph about the origin of the tradition and whether you will include this in your own wedding - if you plan on having one.

The tradition I chose to research is the meaning behind the chuppah.  In keeping with Jewish traditions, the symbol of the chuppah dating from biblical times is representative of the “home” that the couple is about to build together.  It is a reminder (being that the chuppah is empty of furniture) that the home is about the family not the possessions inside.  The chuppah (depending on the couple or religious background ie: reform, conservative, orthodox etc) can be made many different ways.  Traditionally, it is a simple cloth with four poles held up by the wedding party while the bride and groom stand underneath during the ceremony.  More elaborate canopies can be made from many different textiles covered with flowers and greenery. 

In 2002, I had a Jewish wedding.  Our chuppah was a large canopy in white silk draped down on all four sides covered in fresh flowers.  I love the tradition of the chuppah and it has such a warm, spiritual and inviting feeling when standing underneath.  It was as though we were in our own private sanctuary and when we emerged, we were husband and wife.