История / 4. Этнография

Студентка Сивокобыльская Ю. А.

Научный руководитель: ассистент кафедры иностранных языков

Анисимова Светлана Анатольевна

Донецкий национальный университет экономики и торговли имени

Михаила Туган - Барановского, Украина

BRITISH WEDDING

The aim of this work is to describe modern processes of marriage and wedding in Great Britain.

Getting engaged.

In Britain the custom of becoming engaged is still generally retained. Rules of etiquette dictate that the girl’s parents should be the first to hear the news. A Man meets his future-in-laws and his parents write them a friendly letter. The girl’s mother invites her daughter’s in-laws to a meal. When a girl accepts a proposal, the man gives her a ring in token of the betrothal. It is worn on the third finger of left hand before marriage and together with the wedding ring after it. Some people arrange engagement party and put an announcement in the newspaper. As soon as congratulations are over a man should have a talk with the girl’s father about the date of the wedding and the future plans. The period of engagement is usually three or four month.

Marriage.

In England and Wales there are four forms of marriage: by banns, by ordinary license, by special license and by registrar.

Marriage by banns is the form most adopted. Banns must be called for three consecutive Sundays in the churches. They must have been resident for at least 15 days previous to the first publication of the banns. If one of the parties is a minor (under 21), a letter of consent must be obtained from both parents. The marriage then must take place within three month of the banns being published.

Marriage by ordinary license is a convenient alternative to the publications of banns. In London, application must be made by one party to the Faculty Office. There he will swear that doesn’t know of any impediment to the marriage. A license is valid in England and Wales for three month.

Marriage by special license costs 25 pounds sterling and can be obtained only for special reasons. It is never granted lightly. The marriage can take place at any time and at any place.

Marriage by a registrar can be celebrated, without any religious ceremony, at a registry office. Notice must be given by one of the parties for seven days preceding the notice. The certificate is used 21 days after the notice has given.

In Scotland people over the age of 16 do not require their parent’s consent in order to marry. Marriage is performed by a minister of any religion after the banns has been called on two Sundays. The couple may give notice to the registrar for 15 days previously. A Certificate of Publication will be valid for three month in Scotland.

Wedding.

Most girls still dream of a white wedding, with its solemn ceremony. For this reason attention will be given to church wedding, with their old rituals and customs.

The bride’s parents are responsible for the press announcement, the bride’s dress and trousseau, the receptions and cars. The bridegroom pays for the ring, the wedding license and fees. He gives a small present to each of the bridesmaids, usually relatives or friends of bride or sisters of the bridegroom. Their number does not exceed 6. The bride’s mother has to pay for the bridesmaids dresses. There may be two small page-boys too. The best man is a brother, relative or close friend of the groom. His duty is to see to the fees and hand the wedding ring to the groom in the church.

The ushers are male relatives and friends of both bride and groom. Their duties are to stand inside the church and ask each guest “Bride or groom?” they will place friends of the bride on the left and friends of the groom on the right.

The wedding ceremony.

The bridegroom and his best man should be in their places ten minutes before the service starts. The bridesmaids and pages wait in the church porch. The bride, by tradition, arrives a couple of minutes late. The organist starts playing. The bride goes in on the left father’s right arm, and the bridesmaids follow her. During the ceremony, the chief bridesmaid stands behind the bride and holds her bouquet.

In a church the bride and the groom take their marriage vow. The vicar blesses the wedding rings and places it on the third finger of the bride’s left hand. These days, the groom often wears a ring too.

After the ceremony the couple goes into vestry to sign the register with their parents, best man and bridesmaids. As they leave the church together, their friends throw confetti and rice. Guests wait and then go to the reception. Their presents were sent to the bride’s home after the invitation had been received.