Marriage Customs

Some Views On Marriage

Sex is the price women pay for marriage.
Marriage is the price men pay for sex.
Anon.

Marriage in Hinduism

'He is himself a half man and the second half is his wife' (Brahmana Text)

The Hindu belief in caste(one's place in society) and dharma(duty within one's caste) is central to issues surrounding marriage in Hinduism. A propar understanding of this will often remove misconceptions about the nature of marriage and its place in Hindu society.

Marriage is the thirteenth samskaraa person will pass through in their life. The samskarasare sixteen rituals which mark stages in a persons life (the first concerns the moment of conception whilst the last are the funeral rites). Also included in the samskarasare four ashramaswhich follow the cycle of growing up, adulthood and getting old and areBrahnacharyi(student), Grihasta(householder), Vanaprastha (retirement) and Sannyasin(renunciation).

Householders are expected to give to charity, care for aged parents, offer hospitality to guests and provide a settled and well run household. Hindus are also expected to marry in order to continue the family and to care for the dead.

The desire for a son is particularly noteworthy as they have the responsibility for performing many of the funeral rites and cremating the parent's bodies [1]. Thus marriage is seen as a sacred duty with religious as well as social obligations involved.

'No religious ritual can be performed by a man without his wife, and no man or woman's life is seen as complete without marriage.' (Hinduism: A New Approach p.16f)

~ According to Roman Catholic Church doctrine, marriage is the only 1 of its 7 sacrament conferred ~ not by someone else, such as a priest ~ but by the people themselves: a couple simultaneously confers & receives the "sacrament" in its exchange of vows; the priest acts only as a witness & facilitator to this.
~ A Jewish wedding includes the signing of a contract called a ketubah.This contract establishes the wedding of the couple, and it is signed by the couple, with the signature of the rabbi as a witness.
~ Quaker weddings rest upon a simple agreement between the couple and those present at their "wedding" that the couple marries there & then. Since Quakers don't ordain ministers [not recognizing "religious authorities"], there's no need for the pronouncement of marriage by any officiant. Indeed, some States such as Pennsylvania offer a "Quaker" marriage license, requiring no "official" witnesses, only a signature from several adults who are present at the ceremony.

Bigotry, racism and homophobia are not tolerated by Wiccans because Wicca promotes a strong lifestyle, open and supportive. Some Wiccan's may endorse multiple partners or polyamorous sexual patterns, while others prefer monogomy. Courtship and marriage are a deeply personal issue and Wiccan's promote these, at the same time, welcoming individual expression, ie Marriage, Polygamy, Celibacy.

Ayatollah Khomeini's Religious Teachings on Marriage, Divorce and Relationships
From Khomeini's book "Tahrir-ol-Masael"

A woman may legally belong to a man in one of two ways; by continuing marriage or temporary marriage. In the former, the duration of the marriage need not be specified; in the latter, it must be stipulated, for example, that it is for a period of an hour, a day, a month, a year, or more.

A man can marry a girl younger than nine years of age, even if the girl is still a baby being breastfed. A man, however is prohibited from having intercourse with a girl younger than nine, other sexual act such as forplay, rubbing, kissing and sodomy is allowed. A man having intercourse with a girl younger than nine years of age has not comitted a crime, but only an infraction, if the girl is not permanently damaged. If the girl, however, is permanently damaged, the man must provide for her all her life. But this girl will not count as one of the man's four permanent wives. He also is not permitted to marry the girl's sister.

A father or a paternal grandfather has the right to marry off a child who is insane or has not reached puberty by acting as its representative. The child may not annul such a marriage after reaching puberty or regaining his sanity, unless the marriage is to his manifest disadvantage.

Any girl who is of age, that is, capable of understanding what is in her own best interest, if she wishes to get married and is a virgin, must procure the authorization of her father or paternal grandfather. The permission of her mother or brother is not required.

A marriage is annulled if a man finds that his wife is afflicted with one of the seven following disabilities: madness, leprosy, eczema, blindness, paralysis with aftereffects, malformation of the urinary and genital tracts or of the genital-tract and rectum through conjoining thereof, or vaginal malformation making Coitus impossible.

If a wife finds out after marriage that her husband is suffering from mental illness, that he is a castrate, impotent, or has had his testicles excised, she may apply for annulment of her marriage.

If a wife has her marriage annulled because her husband is unable to have sexual relations with her either vaginally or anally, he must pay her as damages one-half of her mehryeh (her price) specified in the marriage contract. If the husband or wife annuls the marriage for any of the above-mentioned reasons, the man owes nothing to the woman if they have had sexual relations together; if they have not, he must pay her the full amount of the dowry.

A Moslem woman may not marry a non-Moslem man; nor may a Moslem man marry a non-Moslem woman in continuing marriage, but he may take a Jewish or Christian woman in temporary marriage.

A woman who has contracted a continuing marriage does not have the right to go out of the house without her husband's permission; she must remain at his disposal for the fulfillment of any one of his desires, and may not refuse herself to him except for a religiously valid reason. If she is totally submissive to him, the husband must provide her with her food, clothing, and lodging, whether or not he has the means to do so.

A woman who refuses herself to her husband is guilty, and may not demand from him food, clothing, lodging, or any later sexual relations; however, she retains the right to be paid damages if she is repudiated.

If a man who has married a girl who has not reached puberty possesses her sexually before her ninth birthday, inflicting traumatisms upon her, he has no right to repeat such an act with her.

A man who has contracted a continuing marriage may not leave his wife for so long a time as to allow her to question the validity of the marriage; however, he is not obligated to spend one night out of every four with her.

A husband must have sexual relations with his wife at least once in every four months.

A woman who has been temporarily married in exchange for a previously established dowry has no right to demand that her daily expenses be paid by her husband, even when she becomes pregnant.

A temporary marriage, even though only one of convenience, is nevertheless legal.

A man must not abstain from having sexual relations with his temporary wife for more than four months.

If a father (or paternal grandfather) marries off his daughter (or granddaughter) in her absence without knowing for a certainty that she is alive, the marriage becomes null and void as soon as it is established that she was dead at the time of the marriage.

To look upon the face and hair of a girl who has not reached puberty, if it is done without intention of enjoyment thereof, and if one is not afraid of succumbing to temptation, may be tolerated. It is however recommended that one not look upon her belly or thighs, which must remain covered.

To look upon the faces and hands of Jewish or Christian women, if this is not done with intention of enjoyment thereof, and if one does not fear temptation, is tolerated.

A woman must hide her body and her hair from the eyes of men. It is highly recommended that she also hide them from those of prepubic boys, if she suspects that they may look upon her with lust.

If a man is called upon, for medical reasons, to look upon a woman other than his wife and to touch her body, he is permitted to do so,but if he can give such care by only looking at the body he must not touch it, and if he can give it by only touching, he must not look at it.

A woman who becomes pregnant as a result of adultery must not have an abortion.
If a man commits adultery with an unmarried woman, and subsequently marries her, the child born of that marriage will be a bastard unless the parents can be sure it was conceived after they were married.

A child born of an adulterous father is legitimate.

The best person to breast-feed a newborn baby it its own mother. It is preferable that she not ask to be paid for such service, but that her husband pay her for it of his own free will. If the sum the mother asks for is greater than that charged by a wet nurse, the husband is free to take the child from its mother and turn it over to the wet nurse.

A man who repudiates his wife must be of sound mind and past the age of puberty. He must do so of his own free will and without any constraint; therefore, if the formula for divorce is spoken in jest the marriage is not annulled.

A woman temporarily married, say, for a month or a year, has her marriage automatically annulled at the end of that time, or at any other time when the husband releases her from the balance of her engagement. It is not necessary for this that there be any witnesses, or that the woman have had her period.

A woman who has not yet reached the age of nine or a menopausal woman may remarry immediately after divorce, without waiting the hundred days that are otherwise required.

A woman who has had her ninth birthday, or who has not yet entered menopause, must wait for three menstrual periods after her divorce before being allowed to remarry. If a woman who has not reached her ninth birthday or who has not entered menopause gets temporarily married, she must, at the end of the contract or when the husband has released her from part of it, wait two menstrual periods or forty-five days before marrying again.

If the father or paternal grandfather of a boy has him marry a woman for a temporary marriage, he may prematurely cancel it in the boy's interest, even if the marriage was contracted before the boy reached the age of puberty. If, for example, a fourteen-year-old boy has been married off to a woman for a period of two years, they may return her freedom to the woman before this time has run its course; but a continuing marriage cannot be broken in this way.

If a man repudiates his wife without informing her of it, and continues to meet her expenses for a period of, say, a year, and at the end of that time informs her that he got a divorce a year earlier and shows her proof of it, he may require that she return to him anything he has bought or given her during that time, provided that she has not used it up or consumed it, in which case he cannot demand its return.

If a child dies within the mother's womb and it is a danger to her life to leave it there, it must be extracted in the easiest way possible; it can. if need be, cut into pieces; this should be done by the woman's husband or a midwife.

A woman who wishes to pursue her studies toward the end of being able to earn her living through respectable work, and who has a male teacher, may do so if she keeps her face covered and has no contact with men; but if-that is inevitable, and religious and moral tenets are thus undermined, she must give up her studies. Girls and boys who attend coeducational classes in grammar schools, high schools, universities, or other teaching establishments, and who, in order to legalize such a situation, wish to contract a temporary marriage may do so without the permission of their fathers. The same applies if the boy and girl are in love but hesitate to ask for such permission.

In the mountains of Jamaica, among the Maroons, when a girl is old enough to marry, her parents make a feast, and if a young man agrees with the girl to live together, they are considered married.
In Silesia, the peasants celebrate their Marriages very pompously. The bridal procession is headed by musicians, and the wedding cortege and horses are gaily decked with ribbons. On the Marriage morning, the bridegroom presents himself at the house of the bride, and, after an infinity of prayers, refusals, and cajoleries, the bride is brought forth. She is condemned to listen to a long list of rules for her future conduct and carriage. Then she gives her hand to her betrothed, and he lifts her into the carriage. As they proceed to the church, the guests eat cold provisions, and drink brandy.
After the ceremony at church, the party proceed to the bride's house, where, for three days, they have dancing. Their guests are given roast meat, cakes, beer, and spirits. After the three days have passed, the bride departs in her husband's wagon, often seated on the top of a pile of furniture, which is her dowry. The first person who meets her in her new home, gives her a piece of bread.
When the Egyptian bride leaves her parents' home, for her husband's, all her female friends and relatives accompany her, veiled like herself, and march under a dais, preceded by musicians and tumblers. The tumblers walk just before the ladies, and go through with various gymnastics, some of which consist in their standing upon their heads. After a sort of triumphal progress, the procession stops at the house of the future husband. Here the visitors are received, and the bride is conducted to the nuptial hall, where the husband, who has never seen his bride's face, though the marriage ceremony is over, is waiting to receive her.
The husband then advances, and lifts the veil that has hitherto hidden the features of the bride, and so perfect a command have the Mussulmans, in general, that they seldom betray any sign of pleasure or dissatisfaction at the beauty or plainness of the ladies upon whom their choice has fallen. The only male spectators of this ceremony are the brothers and father of the bride, for in Egypt the women are so jealously guarded, that no men are allowed to look at them from their infancy, except their nearest relatives.
In Siberia, the bride is required, on her arrival at her husband's home, to invite guests to a dinner prepared by herself, and if pronounced good , it is a recommendation which is above all things to be desired by a woman.
In Japan, the bride's teeth are made black by some corrosive liquid to show that she is married. The laws allow man to marry all relatives except sisters.
In India, the Hindoo widows are not allowed to marry, however young they may be. The very day a girl becomes a widow, her colored clothes, silver and golden ornaments are all taken off. Henceforth, she has to dress in white, and wear no ornaments of any kind whatever during her lifetime. Her daily meals are reduced to one, and that is prepared in the simplest way possible. She is strictly prohibited the use of any sort of animal food. Each widow is required to cook her own food, and to abstain entirely from food and drink two days in every month. On the fast days, when the burning sun dries up the ponds and scorches the leaves of the trees, these poor victims faint and pant in hunger and thirst. If they are dying, a little water will be put on the lips merely to wet them. They have no hope of ever changing their widowhood in the world.
A recent change in the law, however, now allows the marriage of widows, and a learned Brahmin, the Principal of Calcutta Sanscrit College, is earnestly engaged in redeeming their condition, by introducing the system of widow marriage.
Among some tribes of the North American Indians, the suitor enters the wigwam of the squaw he wishes to marry, and proceeding to the farthest corner of the room, commences throwing a few kernels of corn at the object of his affections, and if she retreats to another corner, and returns the throwing, his addresses are acceptable, but if she leaves the wigwam, he returns to his own. In another tribe, the lover leaves a violin near the door, and if it is taken in by the squaw, he returns and entertains her with music.

In France the man must be at least eighteen years of age and the woman fifteen to contract a valid marriage, unless the President of the Republic grants a special dispensation.
In England the common law rule of fourteen for males and twelve for females governs the marriage age. Consent of parents is necessary for persons under twenty-one, except for a widow or widower. Soldiers must get the consent of their commander.
In Scotland the impediments are the same as in England, but no consent of parents or guardian is required. Regular marriages are celebrated by some minister of religion in the presence of at least two witnesses, after the publication of banns or issuance of registrar's certificate. Irregular marriages are clandestine marriages, celebrated without publication of banns or notice to the registrar. Such marriages may be made by mere consent without a clergyman and are valid.
In Ireland provisions are made for marriages by Episcopalians, Catholics, and Presbyterians, by ministers of other denominations, and by the civil registrars. The impediments to marriage are substantially the same as in England.
In Germany a man may not marry, except in unusual cases, under the age of twenty-one or a woman under the age of sixteen. Military men, public officials, and foreigners, before marriage, must obtain a special permit, and military men in active service must also obtain the consent of their officers.
In Italy the consent of the parents or next of kin is required for men under twenty-five years of age and for women under twenty-one years of age. Foreigners desiring to marry in Italy must present a certificate from a competent authority that they have satisfied the requirements of the laws of their own country. Military officials cannot marry without the royal permission, which is not given unless they have an assured income of about eight hundred dollars at least, and have made a settlement for the benefit of the bride.
In the Netherlands the consent of parents is required of an individual under thirteen years of age. Officers of the army and navy require the consent of the sovereign before they can marry, and no man between the ages of eighteen and forty may marry unless he has proved he has performed military service or has been excused from it.
In Switzerland the consent of parents is required of all persons under twenty years of age. The consent of parents is required also in Belgium of all persons under the age of twenty-five, the law being somewhat similar to that of France.
In Russia children must obtain the consent of their parents if living, without regard to their age, a man attaining the marriageable age at eighteen and a woman at sixteen.
In Denmark the marriageable age is twenty for men and sixteen for women, and consent of parents must be obtained by minors under the age of twenty-five.
In Sweden females under the age of twenty-one require the consent of a marriage guardian, usually her father or brother or some other male relative. Men may marry at the age of twenty-one or over, and women at the age seventeen or over.
In Norway the marriageable age for men is twenty and for women sixteen. Parental consent is necessary for both parties under the age of eighteen.
In Japan the consent of parents or of the family council is essential to the marriage of a man under thirty and of a woman under twenty-five.
The marriage laws of the different Canadian province are not uniform but are quite similar. The minimum age for marriage in the Province of Quebec is fourteen for males and twelve for females. Parental consent is necessary for any one under twenty-one years of age. In Quebec alone of the Canadian Provinces illegitimate children are legitimated by the marriage of their parents.
The laws of Australia and New Zealand are based upon the English statutes and common law.

Buddhist Views on Marriage
In Buddhism, marriage is regarded as entirely a personal, individual concern and not as a religious duty.

Marriage is a social convention, an institution created by man for the well-being and happiness of man, to differentiate human society from animal life and to maintain order and harmony in the process of procreation.

Even though the Buddhist texts are silent on the subject of monogamy or polygamy, the Buddhist laity is advised to limit themselves to one wife. The Buddha did not lay rules on married life but gave necessary advice on how to live a happy married life. There are ample inferences in His sermons that it is wise and advisable to be faithful to one wife and not to be sensual and to run after other women.

The Buddha realized that one of the main causes of man's downfall is his involvement with other women (Parabhava Sutta).Man must realize the difficulties, the trials and tribulations that he has to undergo just to maintain a wife and a family.
Knowing the frailties of human nature, the Buddha did, in one of His precepts, advise His followers of refrain from committing adultery or sexual misconduct.

Types of Ancient Roman Marriage

The first and most traditional type of marriage was called confarreatio. This was a marriage limited to patricians whose parents were also married with confarreatio. The wedding was an elaborate ceremony with the Flamen Dialis and Pontifex Maximus presiding, as well as ten witnesses present. The woman passed directly from the manus of her paterfamilias to that of her new husband. Divorce for confarreatio marriages, diffarreatio, was a difficult process and therefore rare. Not much is known about how diffarreatio was carried out except that there was a special type of sacrifice that caused the dissolution of the relationship between the man and woman. She would then pass back into the manus of her paterfamilias.

The second and more common type of marriage with manus was called coemptio. It represented a "bride purchase," as the groom paid nummus usus, a penny, and received the bride in exchange. While this purchase was not a real sale, it symbolized the traditional bride purchases of earlier societies. Only five witnesses were required and the wedding ceremony was much less formal 8than confarreatio, but the bride still passed to her husband's manus.

A third type of marriage is a bit more unusual and was obsolete by the end of the Republic. Usus was a practical marriage that did not require an actual wedding ceremony; it was a transfer to the manus of the husband by default after cohabitation. There was probably some honorable intention stated at the beginning of the cohabitation, an adfectus maritalis. The only requirement for an usus marriage was that the man and woman cohabitate for one full year. The woman would then pass into her husband's manus. There was one loophole, however. If, within that year, the woman was away for three consecutive nights, she would not pass into the manus of her husband.

~ In India the bride and bridegroom march seven times round the sacred fire. On the fourth day, they dine together in public. On the fifth day, an offering of rice is sacrificed, the only religious ceremony except suttee, to which a woman is admitted. The ceremonies terminate by a triumphal procession.
~ In Sicily, marriages are according to the rites of the Greek Church. The bride is richly dressed in the ancient costume of gold and silver brocade, ornamented with precious stones. She walks to church with the bridegroom, leaning on his arm, while just before them, a number of musicians walk leisurely alone, enlivening the occasion with music. A boy in a long white robe accompanies the wedding party, carrying on his head a basket containing two nuptial crowns, and two wedding rings, one of gold and the other of silver.
At the moment the Priest gives the gold ring to the man, and the silver one to the woman, the crowns are placed on their heads, and they promise to love and cherish one another all their lives. The Priest then blesses a goblet of wine, and the bride and bridegroom both drink from the same glass, and divide a morsel of bread. The Priest lays his hands upon their heads and pronounces the blessings of the church upon them. The veil which hides them from the gaze of the spectators is withdrawn, and the ceremony closes with a grave dance in the church, the music being from the organ and orchestra. The Priest and his clerk take part in the dance.
~ In Prussia, the minister gives his services in marrying people, and makes the bride a present.
~ In the good old times, a Persian girl who owned a little property--a hut of fishing boat-- was thereby authorized to select a husband herself. If she wished to commence her search for a husband, she hung up her blue apron in front of the door of the house, and posted herself behind it. The young men of the village passed by the apron one by one in a long procession, dressed in their best Sunday clothes. As soon as the right one appeared, the girl rushed out, threw her arms around his neck, and within three weeks there was a wedding.
~ In Syria, a few years ago, 3,000 Christian girls were carried off to Turkey, and sold as wives, the sale being the only marriage ceremony.
~ The ceremony of marriage in Java is very curious. The bride and bridegroom are brought before the Dukum or Priest, in the house they are to inhabit. They make an obeisance towards the south, then to the hearth, or fireplace, which is to be the scene of their domestic bliss. The third obeisance is towards the earth. Next, they raise their eyes to the upper story of the house for a few moments, after which the Priest says a long prayer, asking for a blessing of both husband and wife. The wife then goes through a ceremony indicative of her humility and willingness to serve her husband in all things, by washing his feet in public; after which the friends make them presents of household implements, in return for which they offer their friends betel nuts.
~ Among a tribe of people called Kocch, that live on the hills in India, as soon as a couple are married, the bridegroom goes to live with the family of the bride, and all his property is made over to her.
~ In the island of Celebes, men were allowed to marry as many wives as they could support, just as they are in Utah, under Brigham Young.
~ In Hungary, they do not marry very young. The gentlemen pays marked attention to the lady for three, four, and sometimes five years. The gentleman employs an agent to exchange rings with the lady, and ask her hand. The bride's father, in the presence of several witnesses, gives his consent. On the wedding morning, the young man's friends repair with joyous shouts, to the house of the bride's father, for the purpose of carrying off the bride, whom they conduct to church with the bridegroom.
After the ceremonies at church, the pair are escorted to the bride's home, amid firing of pistols, guns, and all the village artillery. The nuptial house is generally found closed, and stones are hurled at the door. When the door is opened, a table is seen, sumptuously covered with viands. The heroes of the occasion are seated with their intimate friends, and the whole company observe deep silence, while the blessing is asked. The proceedings terminate with a dancing party.
~ On the Sunday morning preceding a marriage in Bretagne, every invited guest sends a present to the young couple. On the bridal day, a band of music leads in a procession of friends who repair to the bride's house, where the door is immediately opened by a man with a wand in his hand, who points out to the party, in a long rhymed speech, that there is a castle somewherein the neighbourhood, where so gallant a company cannot fail to be well entertained. The bridegroom has also brought his poet, who gives verse for verse, and compliment for compliment.
When the company demand the bride, the wrong person is brought forward. First an old woman, then a child, then a widow, and afterwards one of the bridesmaids. When this sport has continued until the patience of the company is exhausted and the bridegroom's poet's poetry, the real bride is brought forth to greet her betrothed, amidst the shouts of happiness that are heard from the party.
~ In Ireland, at the fair of Galway, it is a custom for all the marriageable girls to assemble and to tempt all wanting men, by their captivating charms, to be made more happy for life. Says an American gentleman of the highest character, who was an eye witness, and invited by a nobleman to go and see these girls:
"At twelve o'clock precisely, we went, as directed, to a part of the ground higher than the rest of the field, where we found from sixty to a hundred young women, well-dressed, with good looks and good manners, and presenting a spectacle quite worthy any civil man looking at, and in which I can assure my readers there was nothing to offend any civil or modest man's feelings. There were the marriageable girls of the country, who had come to show themselves, on the occasion, to the young men and others who wanted wives; and this was the plain and simple custom of the fair. I can plainly say that I saw in the custom no very great impropriety--it certainly did not imply that, though they were ready to be had, anybody could have them. It was not a Circassian slave market, where the richest purchaser could make his selection. They were, in no sense of the term, on sale; nor did they abandon their right of choice; but that which is done constantly in more refined society, under various covers and pretences--at theatres, at balls and public exhibitions, I will say nothing of churches--was done by these humble and unpretending people in this straightforward manner."
~ The Marriage ceremony in Turkey is as follows--A man sends his negro Eunuch to compel a woman he fancies to come to him--after an examination by the future husband, she is turned into his harlem if she suits him. A man is allowed seven wives in one house, and can have as many times seven as he has houses in different towns. When he becomes tired of a wife she is turned out to go her way. The Eunuch is master over these unfortunate women, acting like a shepherd dog, keeping them herded together, and not allowing any one but the Turk to see them.
These women have no education, and are not required to do any work. The one that can master the rest is the favourite with the Turk. It is lawful for him to kill a wife if she violates his rules.
~ In Russia, the marriageable women are put in market once a year, and the men walk about and view them, and when one is seen that is fancied, a card is put into her hand--she hands hers to the admirer, and the courtship commences.
~ In Greece, a man will not marry so long as he has a marriageable sister. The youngest son believes it is his first duty to see his sisters all provided with husbands.
~ In some parts of South America, many do not marry until they have raised families. They can marry and have their children baptized, and they inherit the property. But if this is neglected, the property all goes to the church, and the family is left destitute.
~ Among the Nestorians, on the wedding night, the bridegroom gave the bride a kick with his foot and commanded her to pull off her shoes as a token of her submission.
~ Plutarch says that the Spartans always carried off their brides by a feigned force, in order to make it a legal Marriage. A Spartan woman appeared in public until she was married, but ever after she wore a veil.
~ In ancient Assyria all the marriageable young girls were sold in a public place at auction, and all the women were provided with husbands. Those who were very handsome sold for large sums, and the money was divided among the plain-looking ones.
A tribe of people in Barbary called Nasamones used to marry by drinking out of each other's hands. The parents arranged the match, and the bride's face was unveiled by the husband for the first time on their wedding day.
It has been stated that in some country the young lady rides a fleet horse, and if she desires to marry, she allows herself to be overtaken, but if the wrong suitor is likely to overtake her, she drops a golden apple, and while he is picking it up, the one she wishes to marry is allowed to overtake her.
~ I.S. Deihl, the celebrated Lecturer on Oriental and Bible Lands, relates many curious customs, among which are the two following:
In Armenia the young woman is brought to the mother of her affianced, who, in an angry manner, throws her a bundle of infant's clothes, places a little one in her arms and watches the Miss, who nervously dresses the babe, and if to the satisfaction of the future mother-in-law, she is allowed to marry, but if not, she is sent home to take fresh lessons in the art of baby-dressing.
In some places, the Circassian women are taken to a market and sold as wives to the highest bidder. Among the Circassians, a young woman is put on a horse's back, and compelled to ride over the plains until caught by some man, the catching being the only Marriage ceremony. It sometimes occurs that the husband is a speculator, and as soon as she is caught, he sends his property on another equestrian tour, and sells her to the successful capturer.
~ In some of the German states, a young woman lives with her affianced mother a year before her marriage, that she may learn all about household matters.
~ In the former Persia, the business of the bridegroom was transacted by an agent, and the contract is one of barter. The wedding festivities at the bride's house last for ten days. On the last day the bridegroom sends the bride her trousseau, which consists of rich jewels, dresses and sometimes slaves and attendants. All sorts of wealth is displayed, and sometimes a great pretension is make, by carrying empty boxes. The bride is brought to the husband's house mounted on a camel , or a horse.

The Marriage itself is entirely an affair of bargain and sale, as the bride is taken in consideration of a certain dowry. Now and then the husband objects and the last moment to ratify the engagement he has made, and when his bride is brought home to him, refuses to receive her, stating himself unable or unwilling to pay so much. Then follows a long scene of bargaining, always, however, ending in a compromise, for it would be a great disgrace to the bride to be sent back. The marriage is seldom intended to last the lifetime of either party.
~ Marriages in Norway are usually solemnized in winter, when the people are comparatively unoccupied. A week before the ceremony is to take place, messengers are sent around to invite the proprietors and servants of neighboring farms. The room in which the ceremony is to take place, is decorated with green boughs. After a substantial breakfast, the betrothed couple are brought forward by their relatives, and seated in state in the great room, where the priest blesses them, and when the prayers are finished, proceeds to a table, on which is placed a large plate. Addressing the company generally, he recommends the couple to their notice. The relatives then come forward, and deposit bright new crown pieces in the plate; then come the rich neighbors, who contribute according to their means, and lastly, the poorer friends, who each throw in their mite, towards setting up the household of the new-make wife. The festivities are kept up for two or three days.
~ In Persia, they formerly believed that married people were happier after death than single ones, and so if a person died single, they would marry some one to the corpse before burial. Some people hired persons to be espoused to their relatives who had died single and were buried without having been married.
~ In India, on the Malabar coast, among some of the lower castes, a man can have but one wife, while a woman may have three husbands. All three contribute to the support of the children.

Some Views On Marriage Sex is the price women pay for marriage. Marriage is the price men pay for sex. Anon. Marriage in Hinduism 'He is himself a half man and the second half is his wife' (Brahmana Text) The Hindu belief in caste(one's place in society) and dharma(duty within one's caste) is central to issues surrounding marriage in Hinduism. A propar understanding of this will often remove misconceptions about the nature of marriage and its place in Hindu society. Marriage is the thirteenth samskaraa person will pass through in their life. The samskarasare sixteen rituals which mark stages in a persons life (the first concerns the moment of conception whilst the last are the funeral rites). Also included in the samskarasare four ashramaswhich follow the cycle of growing up, adulthood and getting old and areBrahnacharyi(student), Grihasta(householder), Vanaprastha (retirement) and Sannyasin(renunciation). Householders are expected to give to charity, care for aged parents, offer hospitality to guests and provide a settled and well run household. Hindus are also expected to marry in order to continue the family and to care for the dead. The desire for a son is particularly noteworthy as they have the responsibility for performing many of the funeral rites and cremating the parent's bodies [1]. Thus marriage is seen as a sacred duty with religious as well as social obligations involved. 'No religious ritual can be performed by a man without his wife, and no man or woman's life is seen as complete without marriage.' (Hinduism: A New Approach p.16f)		~ According to Roman Catholic Church doctrine, marriage is the only 1 of its 7 sacrament conferred ~ not by someone else, such as a priest ~ but by the people themselves: a couple simultaneously confers & receives the "sacrament" in its exchange of vows; the priest acts only as a witness & facilitator to this. ~ A Jewish wedding includes the signing of a contract called a ketubah.This contract establishes the wedding of the couple, and it is signed by the couple, with the signature of the rabbi as a witness. ~ Quaker weddings rest upon a simple agreement between the couple and those present at their "wedding" that the couple marries there & then. Since Quakers don't ordain ministers [not recognizing "religious authorities"], there's no need for the pronouncement of marriage by any officiant. Indeed, some States such as Pennsylvania offer a "Quaker" marriage license, requiring no "official" witnesses, only a signature from several adults who are present at the ceremony. Bigotry, racism and homophobia are not tolerated by Wiccans because Wicca promotes a strong lifestyle, open and supportive. Some Wiccan's may endorse multiple partners or polyamorous sexual patterns, while others prefer monogomy. Courtship and marriage are a deeply personal issue and Wiccan's promote these, at the same time, welcoming individual expression, ie Marriage, Polygamy, Celibacy.
Ayatollah Khomeini's Religious Teachings on Marriage, Divorce and Relationships From Khomeini's book "Tahrir-ol-Masael" A woman may legally belong to a man in one of two ways; by continuing marriage or temporary marriage. In the former, the duration of the marriage need not be specified; in the latter, it must be stipulated, for example, that it is for a period of an hour, a day, a month, a year, or more. A man can marry a girl younger than nine years of age, even if the girl is still a baby being breastfed. A man, however is prohibited from having intercourse with a girl younger than nine, other sexual act such as forplay, rubbing, kissing and sodomy is allowed. A man having intercourse with a girl younger than nine years of age has not comitted a crime, but only an infraction, if the girl is not permanently damaged. If the girl, however, is permanently damaged, the man must provide for her all her life. But this girl will not count as one of the man's four permanent wives. He also is not permitted to marry the girl's sister. A father or a paternal grandfather has the right to marry off a child who is insane or has not reached puberty by acting as its representative. The child may not annul such a marriage after reaching puberty or regaining his sanity, unless the marriage is to his manifest disadvantage. Any girl who is of age, that is, capable of understanding what is in her own best interest, if she wishes to get married and is a virgin, must procure the authorization of her father or paternal grandfather. The permission of her mother or brother is not required. A marriage is annulled if a man finds that his wife is afflicted with one of the seven following disabilities: madness, leprosy, eczema, blindness, paralysis with aftereffects, malformation of the urinary and genital tracts or of the genital-tract and rectum through conjoining thereof, or vaginal malformation making Coitus impossible. If a wife finds out after marriage that her husband is suffering from mental illness, that he is a castrate, impotent, or has had his testicles excised, she may apply for annulment of her marriage. If a wife has her marriage annulled because her husband is unable to have sexual relations with her either vaginally or anally, he must pay her as damages one-half of her mehryeh (her price) specified in the marriage contract. If the husband or wife annuls the marriage for any of the above-mentioned reasons, the man owes nothing to the woman if they have had sexual relations together; if they have not, he must pay her the full amount of the dowry. A Moslem woman may not marry a non-Moslem man; nor may a Moslem man marry a non-Moslem woman in continuing marriage, but he may take a Jewish or Christian woman in temporary marriage. A woman who has contracted a continuing marriage does not have the right to go out of the house without her husband's permission; she must remain at his disposal for the fulfillment of any one of his desires, and may not refuse herself to him except for a religiously valid reason. If she is totally submissive to him, the husband must provide her with her food, clothing, and lodging, whether or not he has the means to do so. A woman who refuses herself to her husband is guilty, and may not demand from him food, clothing, lodging, or any later sexual relations; however, she retains the right to be paid damages if she is repudiated. If a man who has married a girl who has not reached puberty possesses her sexually before her ninth birthday, inflicting traumatisms upon her, he has no right to repeat such an act with her. A man who has contracted a continuing marriage may not leave his wife for so long a time as to allow her to question the validity of the marriage; however, he is not obligated to spend one night out of every four with her. A husband must have sexual relations with his wife at least once in every four months. A woman who has been temporarily married in exchange for a previously established dowry has no right to demand that her daily expenses be paid by her husband, even when she becomes pregnant. A temporary marriage, even though only one of convenience, is nevertheless legal. A man must not abstain from having sexual relations with his temporary wife for more than four months. If a father (or paternal grandfather) marries off his daughter (or granddaughter) in her absence without knowing for a certainty that she is alive, the marriage becomes null and void as soon as it is established that she was dead at the time of the marriage. To look upon the face and hair of a girl who has not reached puberty, if it is done without intention of enjoyment thereof, and if one is not afraid of succumbing to temptation, may be tolerated. It is however recommended that one not look upon her belly or thighs, which must remain covered. To look upon the faces and hands of Jewish or Christian women, if this is not done with intention of enjoyment thereof, and if one does not fear temptation, is tolerated. A woman must hide her body and her hair from the eyes of men. It is highly recommended that she also hide them from those of prepubic boys, if she suspects that they may look upon her with lust. If a man is called upon, for medical reasons, to look upon a woman other than his wife and to touch her body, he is permitted to do so,but if he can give such care by only looking at the body he must not touch it, and if he can give it by only touching, he must not look at it. A woman who becomes pregnant as a result of adultery must not have an abortion. If a man commits adultery with an unmarried woman, and subsequently marries her, the child born of that marriage will be a bastard unless the parents can be sure it was conceived after they were married. A child born of an adulterous father is legitimate. The best person to breast-feed a newborn baby it its own mother. It is preferable that she not ask to be paid for such service, but that her husband pay her for it of his own free will. If the sum the mother asks for is greater than that charged by a wet nurse, the husband is free to take the child from its mother and turn it over to the wet nurse. A man who repudiates his wife must be of sound mind and past the age of puberty. He must do so of his own free will and without any constraint; therefore, if the formula for divorce is spoken in jest the marriage is not annulled. A woman temporarily married, say, for a month or a year, has her marriage automatically annulled at the end of that time, or at any other time when the husband releases her from the balance of her engagement. It is not necessary for this that there be any witnesses, or that the woman have had her period. A woman who has not yet reached the age of nine or a menopausal woman may remarry immediately after divorce, without waiting the hundred days that are otherwise required. A woman who has had her ninth birthday, or who has not yet entered menopause, must wait for three menstrual periods after her divorce before being allowed to remarry. If a woman who has not reached her ninth birthday or who has not entered menopause gets temporarily married, she must, at the end of the contract or when the husband has released her from part of it, wait two menstrual periods or forty-five days before marrying again. If the father or paternal grandfather of a boy has him marry a woman for a temporary marriage, he may prematurely cancel it in the boy's interest, even if the marriage was contracted before the boy reached the age of puberty. If, for example, a fourteen-year-old boy has been married off to a woman for a period of two years, they may return her freedom to the woman before this time has run its course; but a continuing marriage cannot be broken in this way. If a man repudiates his wife without informing her of it, and continues to meet her expenses for a period of, say, a year, and at the end of that time informs her that he got a divorce a year earlier and shows her proof of it, he may require that she return to him anything he has bought or given her during that time, provided that she has not used it up or consumed it, in which case he cannot demand its return. If a child dies within the mother's womb and it is a danger to her life to leave it there, it must be extracted in the easiest way possible; it can. if need be, cut into pieces; this should be done by the woman's husband or a midwife. A woman who wishes to pursue her studies toward the end of being able to earn her living through respectable work, and who has a male teacher, may do so if she keeps her face covered and has no contact with men; but if-that is inevitable, and religious and moral tenets are thus undermined, she must give up her studies. Girls and boys who attend coeducational classes in grammar schools, high schools, universities, or other teaching establishments, and who, in order to legalize such a situation, wish to contract a temporary marriage may do so without the permission of their fathers. The same applies if the boy and girl are in love but hesitate to ask for such permission. In the mountains of Jamaica, among the Maroons, when a girl is old enough to marry, her parents make a feast, and if a young man agrees with the girl to live together, they are considered married. In Silesia, the peasants celebrate their Marriages very pompously. The bridal procession is headed by musicians, and the wedding cortege and horses are gaily decked with ribbons. On the Marriage morning, the bridegroom presents himself at the house of the bride, and, after an infinity of prayers, refusals, and cajoleries, the bride is brought forth. She is condemned to listen to a long list of rules for her future conduct and carriage. Then she gives her hand to her betrothed, and he lifts her into the carriage. As they proceed to the church, the guests eat cold provisions, and drink brandy. After the ceremony at church, the party proceed to the bride's house, where, for three days, they have dancing. Their guests are given roast meat, cakes, beer, and spirits. After the three days have passed, the bride departs in her husband's wagon, often seated on the top of a pile of furniture, which is her dowry. The first person who meets her in her new home, gives her a piece of bread. When the Egyptian bride leaves her parents' home, for her husband's, all her female friends and relatives accompany her, veiled like herself, and march under a dais, preceded by musicians and tumblers. The tumblers walk just before the ladies, and go through with various gymnastics, some of which consist in their standing upon their heads. After a sort of triumphal progress, the procession stops at the house of the future husband. Here the visitors are received, and the bride is conducted to the nuptial hall, where the husband, who has never seen his bride's face, though the marriage ceremony is over, is waiting to receive her. The husband then advances, and lifts the veil that has hitherto hidden the features of the bride, and so perfect a command have the Mussulmans, in general, that they seldom betray any sign of pleasure or dissatisfaction at the beauty or plainness of the ladies upon whom their choice has fallen. The only male spectators of this ceremony are the brothers and father of the bride, for in Egypt the women are so jealously guarded, that no men are allowed to look at them from their infancy, except their nearest relatives. In Siberia, the bride is required, on her arrival at her husband's home, to invite guests to a dinner prepared by herself, and if pronounced good , it is a recommendation which is above all things to be desired by a woman. In Japan, the bride's teeth are made black by some corrosive liquid to show that she is married. The laws allow man to marry all relatives except sisters. In India, the Hindoo widows are not allowed to marry, however young they may be. The very day a girl becomes a widow, her colored clothes, silver and golden ornaments are all taken off. Henceforth, she has to dress in white, and wear no ornaments of any kind whatever during her lifetime. Her daily meals are reduced to one, and that is prepared in the simplest way possible. She is strictly prohibited the use of any sort of animal food. Each widow is required to cook her own food, and to abstain entirely from food and drink two days in every month. On the fast days, when the burning sun dries up the ponds and scorches the leaves of the trees, these poor victims faint and pant in hunger and thirst. If they are dying, a little water will be put on the lips merely to wet them. They have no hope of ever changing their widowhood in the world. A recent change in the law, however, now allows the marriage of widows, and a learned Brahmin, the Principal of Calcutta Sanscrit College, is earnestly engaged in redeeming their condition, by introducing the system of widow marriage. Among some tribes of the North American Indians, the suitor enters the wigwam of the squaw he wishes to marry, and proceeding to the farthest corner of the room, commences throwing a few kernels of corn at the object of his affections, and if she retreats to another corner, and returns the throwing, his addresses are acceptable, but if she leaves the wigwam, he returns to his own. In another tribe, the lover leaves a violin near the door, and if it is taken in by the squaw, he returns and entertains her with music. In France the man must be at least eighteen years of age and the woman fifteen to contract a valid marriage, unless the President of the Republic grants a special dispensation. In England the common law rule of fourteen for males and twelve for females governs the marriage age. Consent of parents is necessary for persons under twenty-one, except for a widow or widower. Soldiers must get the consent of their commander. In Scotland the impediments are the same as in England, but no consent of parents or guardian is required. Regular marriages are celebrated by some minister of religion in the presence of at least two witnesses, after the publication of banns or issuance of registrar's certificate. Irregular marriages are clandestine marriages, celebrated without publication of banns or notice to the registrar. Such marriages may be made by mere consent without a clergyman and are valid. In Ireland provisions are made for marriages by Episcopalians, Catholics, and Presbyterians, by ministers of other denominations, and by the civil registrars. The impediments to marriage are substantially the same as in England. In Germany a man may not marry, except in unusual cases, under the age of twenty-one or a woman under the age of sixteen. Military men, public officials, and foreigners, before marriage, must obtain a special permit, and military men in active service must also obtain the consent of their officers. In Italy the consent of the parents or next of kin is required for men under twenty-five years of age and for women under twenty-one years of age. Foreigners desiring to marry in Italy must present a certificate from a competent authority that they have satisfied the requirements of the laws of their own country. Military officials cannot marry without the royal permission, which is not given unless they have an assured income of about eight hundred dollars at least, and have made a settlement for the benefit of the bride. In the Netherlands the consent of parents is required of an individual under thirteen years of age. Officers of the army and navy require the consent of the sovereign before they can marry, and no man between the ages of eighteen and forty may marry unless he has proved he has performed military service or has been excused from it. In Switzerland the consent of parents is required of all persons under twenty years of age. The consent of parents is required also in Belgium of all persons under the age of twenty-five, the law being somewhat similar to that of France. In Russia children must obtain the consent of their parents if living, without regard to their age, a man attaining the marriageable age at eighteen and a woman at sixteen. In Denmark the marriageable age is twenty for men and sixteen for women, and consent of parents must be obtained by minors under the age of twenty-five. In Sweden females under the age of twenty-one require the consent of a marriage guardian, usually her father or brother or some other male relative. Men may marry at the age of twenty-one or over, and women at the age seventeen or over. In Norway the marriageable age for men is twenty and for women sixteen. Parental consent is necessary for both parties under the age of eighteen. In Japan the consent of parents or of the family council is essential to the marriage of a man under thirty and of a woman under twenty-five. The marriage laws of the different Canadian province are not uniform but are quite similar. The minimum age for marriage in the Province of Quebec is fourteen for males and twelve for females. Parental consent is necessary for any one under twenty-one years of age. In Quebec alone of the Canadian Provinces illegitimate children are legitimated by the marriage of their parents. The laws of Australia and New Zealand are based upon the English statutes and common law.		Buddhist Views on Marriage In Buddhism, marriage is regarded as entirely a personal, individual concern and not as a religious duty. Marriage is a social convention, an institution created by man for the well-being and happiness of man, to differentiate human society from animal life and to maintain order and harmony in the process of procreation. Even though the Buddhist texts are silent on the subject of monogamy or polygamy, the Buddhist laity is advised to limit themselves to one wife. The Buddha did not lay rules on married life but gave necessary advice on how to live a happy married life. There are ample inferences in His sermons that it is wise and advisable to be faithful to one wife and not to be sensual and to run after other women. The Buddha realized that one of the main causes of man's downfall is his involvement with other women (Parabhava Sutta).Man must realize the difficulties, the trials and tribulations that he has to undergo just to maintain a wife and a family. Knowing the frailties of human nature, the Buddha did, in one of His precepts, advise His followers of refrain from committing adultery or sexual misconduct. Types of Ancient Roman Marriage The first and most traditional type of marriage was called confarreatio. This was a marriage limited to patricians whose parents were also married with confarreatio. The wedding was an elaborate ceremony with the Flamen Dialis and Pontifex Maximus presiding, as well as ten witnesses present. The woman passed directly from the manus of her paterfamilias to that of her new husband. Divorce for confarreatio marriages, diffarreatio, was a difficult process and therefore rare. Not much is known about how diffarreatio was carried out except that there was a special type of sacrifice that caused the dissolution of the relationship between the man and woman. She would then pass back into the manus of her paterfamilias. The second and more common type of marriage with manus was called coemptio. It represented a "bride purchase," as the groom paid nummus usus, a penny, and received the bride in exchange. While this purchase was not a real sale, it symbolized the traditional bride purchases of earlier societies. Only five witnesses were required and the wedding ceremony was much less formal 8than confarreatio, but the bride still passed to her husband's manus. A third type of marriage is a bit more unusual and was obsolete by the end of the Republic. Usus was a practical marriage that did not require an actual wedding ceremony; it was a transfer to the manus of the husband by default after cohabitation. There was probably some honorable intention stated at the beginning of the cohabitation, an adfectus maritalis. The only requirement for an usus marriage was that the man and woman cohabitate for one full year. The woman would then pass into her husband's manus. There was one loophole, however. If, within that year, the woman was away for three consecutive nights, she would not pass into the manus of her husband. ~ In India the bride and bridegroom march seven times round the sacred fire. On the fourth day, they dine together in public. On the fifth day, an offering of rice is sacrificed, the only religious ceremony except suttee, to which a woman is admitted. The ceremonies terminate by a triumphal procession. ~ In Sicily, marriages are according to the rites of the Greek Church. The bride is richly dressed in the ancient costume of gold and silver brocade, ornamented with precious stones. She walks to church with the bridegroom, leaning on his arm, while just before them, a number of musicians walk leisurely alone, enlivening the occasion with music. A boy in a long white robe accompanies the wedding party, carrying on his head a basket containing two nuptial crowns, and two wedding rings, one of gold and the other of silver. At the moment the Priest gives the gold ring to the man, and the silver one to the woman, the crowns are placed on their heads, and they promise to love and cherish one another all their lives. The Priest then blesses a goblet of wine, and the bride and bridegroom both drink from the same glass, and divide a morsel of bread. The Priest lays his hands upon their heads and pronounces the blessings of the church upon them. The veil which hides them from the gaze of the spectators is withdrawn, and the ceremony closes with a grave dance in the church, the music being from the organ and orchestra. The Priest and his clerk take part in the dance. ~ In Prussia, the minister gives his services in marrying people, and makes the bride a present. ~ In the good old times, a Persian girl who owned a little property--a hut of fishing boat-- was thereby authorized to select a husband herself. If she wished to commence her search for a husband, she hung up her blue apron in front of the door of the house, and posted herself behind it. The young men of the village passed by the apron one by one in a long procession, dressed in their best Sunday clothes. As soon as the right one appeared, the girl rushed out, threw her arms around his neck, and within three weeks there was a wedding. ~ In Syria, a few years ago, 3,000 Christian girls were carried off to Turkey, and sold as wives, the sale being the only marriage ceremony. ~ The ceremony of marriage in Java is very curious. The bride and bridegroom are brought before the Dukum or Priest, in the house they are to inhabit. They make an obeisance towards the south, then to the hearth, or fireplace, which is to be the scene of their domestic bliss. The third obeisance is towards the earth. Next, they raise their eyes to the upper story of the house for a few moments, after which the Priest says a long prayer, asking for a blessing of both husband and wife. The wife then goes through a ceremony indicative of her humility and willingness to serve her husband in all things, by washing his feet in public; after which the friends make them presents of household implements, in return for which they offer their friends betel nuts. ~ Among a tribe of people called Kocch, that live on the hills in India, as soon as a couple are married, the bridegroom goes to live with the family of the bride, and all his property is made over to her. ~ In the island of Celebes, men were allowed to marry as many wives as they could support, just as they are in Utah, under Brigham Young. ~ In Hungary, they do not marry very young. The gentlemen pays marked attention to the lady for three, four, and sometimes five years. The gentleman employs an agent to exchange rings with the lady, and ask her hand. The bride's father, in the presence of several witnesses, gives his consent. On the wedding morning, the young man's friends repair with joyous shouts, to the house of the bride's father, for the purpose of carrying off the bride, whom they conduct to church with the bridegroom. After the ceremonies at church, the pair are escorted to the bride's home, amid firing of pistols, guns, and all the village artillery. The nuptial house is generally found closed, and stones are hurled at the door. When the door is opened, a table is seen, sumptuously covered with viands. The heroes of the occasion are seated with their intimate friends, and the whole company observe deep silence, while the blessing is asked. The proceedings terminate with a dancing party. ~ On the Sunday morning preceding a marriage in Bretagne, every invited guest sends a present to the young couple. On the bridal day, a band of music leads in a procession of friends who repair to the bride's house, where the door is immediately opened by a man with a wand in his hand, who points out to the party, in a long rhymed speech, that there is a castle somewherein the neighbourhood, where so gallant a company cannot fail to be well entertained. The bridegroom has also brought his poet, who gives verse for verse, and compliment for compliment. When the company demand the bride, the wrong person is brought forward. First an old woman, then a child, then a widow, and afterwards one of the bridesmaids. When this sport has continued until the patience of the company is exhausted and the bridegroom's poet's poetry, the real bride is brought forth to greet her betrothed, amidst the shouts of happiness that are heard from the party. ~ In Ireland, at the fair of Galway, it is a custom for all the marriageable girls to assemble and to tempt all wanting men, by their captivating charms, to be made more happy for life. Says an American gentleman of the highest character, who was an eye witness, and invited by a nobleman to go and see these girls: "At twelve o'clock precisely, we went, as directed, to a part of the ground higher than the rest of the field, where we found from sixty to a hundred young women, well-dressed, with good looks and good manners, and presenting a spectacle quite worthy any civil man looking at, and in which I can assure my readers there was nothing to offend any civil or modest man's feelings. There were the marriageable girls of the country, who had come to show themselves, on the occasion, to the young men and others who wanted wives; and this was the plain and simple custom of the fair. I can plainly say that I saw in the custom no very great impropriety--it certainly did not imply that, though they were ready to be had, anybody could have them. It was not a Circassian slave market, where the richest purchaser could make his selection. They were, in no sense of the term, on sale; nor did they abandon their right of choice; but that which is done constantly in more refined society, under various covers and pretences--at theatres, at balls and public exhibitions, I will say nothing of churches--was done by these humble and unpretending people in this straightforward manner." ~ The Marriage ceremony in Turkey is as follows--A man sends his negro Eunuch to compel a woman he fancies to come to him--after an examination by the future husband, she is turned into his harlem if she suits him. A man is allowed seven wives in one house, and can have as many times seven as he has houses in different towns. When he becomes tired of a wife she is turned out to go her way. The Eunuch is master over these unfortunate women, acting like a shepherd dog, keeping them herded together, and not allowing any one but the Turk to see them. These women have no education, and are not required to do any work. The one that can master the rest is the favourite with the Turk. It is lawful for him to kill a wife if she violates his rules. ~ In Russia, the marriageable women are put in market once a year, and the men walk about and view them, and when one is seen that is fancied, a card is put into her hand--she hands hers to the admirer, and the courtship commences. ~ In Greece, a man will not marry so long as he has a marriageable sister. The youngest son believes it is his first duty to see his sisters all provided with husbands. ~ In some parts of South America, many do not marry until they have raised families. They can marry and have their children baptized, and they inherit the property. But if this is neglected, the property all goes to the church, and the family is left destitute. ~ Among the Nestorians, on the wedding night, the bridegroom gave the bride a kick with his foot and commanded her to pull off her shoes as a token of her submission. ~ Plutarch says that the Spartans always carried off their brides by a feigned force, in order to make it a legal Marriage. A Spartan woman appeared in public until she was married, but ever after she wore a veil. ~ In ancient Assyria all the marriageable young girls were sold in a public place at auction, and all the women were provided with husbands. Those who were very handsome sold for large sums, and the money was divided among the plain-looking ones. A tribe of people in Barbary called Nasamones used to marry by drinking out of each other's hands. The parents arranged the match, and the bride's face was unveiled by the husband for the first time on their wedding day. It has been stated that in some country the young lady rides a fleet horse, and if she desires to marry, she allows herself to be overtaken, but if the wrong suitor is likely to overtake her, she drops a golden apple, and while he is picking it up, the one she wishes to marry is allowed to overtake her. ~ I.S. Deihl, the celebrated Lecturer on Oriental and Bible Lands, relates many curious customs, among which are the two following: In Armenia the young woman is brought to the mother of her affianced, who, in an angry manner, throws her a bundle of infant's clothes, places a little one in her arms and watches the Miss, who nervously dresses the babe, and if to the satisfaction of the future mother-in-law, she is allowed to marry, but if not, she is sent home to take fresh lessons in the art of baby-dressing. In some places, the Circassian women are taken to a market and sold as wives to the highest bidder. Among the Circassians, a young woman is put on a horse's back, and compelled to ride over the plains until caught by some man, the catching being the only Marriage ceremony. It sometimes occurs that the husband is a speculator, and as soon as she is caught, he sends his property on another equestrian tour, and sells her to the successful capturer. ~ In some of the German states, a young woman lives with her affianced mother a year before her marriage, that she may learn all about household matters. ~ In the former Persia, the business of the bridegroom was transacted by an agent, and the contract is one of barter. The wedding festivities at the bride's house last for ten days. On the last day the bridegroom sends the bride her trousseau, which consists of rich jewels, dresses and sometimes slaves and attendants. All sorts of wealth is displayed, and sometimes a great pretension is make, by carrying empty boxes. The bride is brought to the husband's house mounted on a camel , or a horse. The Marriage itself is entirely an affair of bargain and sale, as the bride is taken in consideration of a certain dowry. Now and then the husband objects and the last moment to ratify the engagement he has made, and when his bride is brought home to him, refuses to receive her, stating himself unable or unwilling to pay so much. Then follows a long scene of bargaining, always, however, ending in a compromise, for it would be a great disgrace to the bride to be sent back. The marriage is seldom intended to last the lifetime of either party. ~ Marriages in Norway are usually solemnized in winter, when the people are comparatively unoccupied. A week before the ceremony is to take place, messengers are sent around to invite the proprietors and servants of neighboring farms. The room in which the ceremony is to take place, is decorated with green boughs. After a substantial breakfast, the betrothed couple are brought forward by their relatives, and seated in state in the great room, where the priest blesses them, and when the prayers are finished, proceeds to a table, on which is placed a large plate. Addressing the company generally, he recommends the couple to their notice. The relatives then come forward, and deposit bright new crown pieces in the plate; then come the rich neighbors, who contribute according to their means, and lastly, the poorer friends, who each throw in their mite, towards setting up the household of the new-make wife. The festivities are kept up for two or three days. ~ In Persia, they formerly believed that married people were happier after death than single ones, and so if a person died single, they would marry some one to the corpse before burial. Some people hired persons to be espoused to their relatives who had died single and were buried without having been married. ~ In India, on the Malabar coast, among some of the lower castes, a man can have but one wife, while a woman may have three husbands. All three contribute to the support of the children.