Thursday, February 7, 2013

Love and Marriage Part V

Elves have very elaborate, and drawn out, weddings.  Elven weddings last a full week starting on the 1st day of the month, to give blessing to the couple.

1)Day 1 through Day 3: The soon to be bride and groom meditate in the temple of either Targon, Aiyana, or Catiana, (their choice) and think upon their lives and the lives they will have together.  During this time neither take water or food so they can be more pure as they speak with their Gods.

2) Day 4: A small feast of salads, fruits, vegetable dishes and wine are given to the couple and their close families.  (In some case this is the whole community, even if they are not "close" family.)  Both families get to know each other, if they don't already, and plans for where the couple will live and what professions they will pursue, if they haven't already, are discussed.

3) Day 5: This is an elaborate exchange of gifts between families and with the community.  Each family tries to up stage the other by giving very fine gifts to the other family, as well as to prominent community members.  Some families give gifts to even the smallest of children in the community to show how well off they are and how willing they are to give back to the community.

4) Day 6: The wedding itself.  This hours long ceremony is exchange of vows to each other, to their families and to their Gods.  Testimonials are given about the couples' virtues and small speeches are given about how well the community wishes the couple to do in their lives together.

5) Day 7:  The feast.  The feast has several dozen courses, starting with soups, and ending with trays of deserts that have been prepared all week.  The best wines and meats are given at this time, as well.

Players can be part of the wedding, because the groom or bride is a family member, or they can be invited because, perhaps, they helped the couple out.  Very rarely are outsiders allowed to witness if they haven't done something for the family in the past.

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