IFRAME: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8 [tr?id=154643575315468&ev=PageView&noscript=1] 250 thistle logo ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA 250 thistle logo START YOUR FREE TRIAL Advertisement Log In · Join * Demystified * Quizzes * Galleries * Lists * On This Day * Biographies * Newsletters START YOUR FREE TRIAL Advertisement Search Britannica What are you looking for? Search ____________________ (BUTTON) Click here to search Browse popular topics: * Neil Armstrong * Auld Lang Syne * Barack Obama * Wars of the Roses * Great Famine Bring fact-checked results to the top of your browser search. Learn More. chrome store logo Marriage Written By: * The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica See Article History Alternative Title: matrimony Marriage, a legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between a man and a woman, that is regulated by laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the rights and duties of the partners and accords status to their offspring (if any). The universality of marriage within different societies and cultures is attributed to the many basic social and personal functions for which it provides structure, such as sexual gratification and regulation, division of labour between the sexes, economic production and consumption, and satisfaction of personal needs for affection, status, and companionship. Perhaps its strongest function concerns procreation, the care of children and their education and socialization, and regulation of lines of descent. Through the ages, marriages have taken a great number of forms. (See exchange marriage; group marriage; polyandry; polygamy; tree marriage. See also common-law marriage.) By the 21st century the nature of marriage in Western countries—particularly with regard to the significance of procreation and the ease of divorce—had begun to change. In 2000 the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriages; the law went into force on April 1, 2001. In the ensuing years, numerous other countries—including Canada (2005), France (2013), the United States (2015), and Germany (2017)—followed suit. In addition, some countries extended benefits and obligations to same-sex couples by means of a registered partnership or civil union, both of which terms meant different things in different contexts. In the biological evolutionary scale, the more complex the species, the longer the offspring is dependent on its mother for survival from the time of birth to maturity. Human beings, at the top of the evolutionary scale, require the most time of all species to reach maturity. This imposes increased duties on human parents for the care of their children, and marriage traditionally has been seen as the institution best suited to fulfill these parental duties and responsibilities. Read More on This Topic A Bedouin family sitting in front of their tent in the Sahara desert. family law: Legal consequences of marriage Two persons might produce the economic incidents of marriage by executing appropriate contracts or settlements. In some legal systems, a contract in conventional form is the core of the constitution of marriage. The contract may be complex, with a variety of clauses, as in… Marital customs and laws Some form of marriage has been found to exist in all human societies, past and present. Its importance can be seen in the elaborate and complex laws and rituals surrounding it. Although these laws and rituals are as varied and numerous as human social and cultural organizations, some universals do apply. The main legal function of marriage is to ensure the rights of the partners with respect to each other and to ensure the rights and define the relationships of children within a community. Marriage has historically conferred a legitimate status on the offspring, which entitled him or her to the various privileges set down by the traditions of that community, including the right of inheritance. In most societies marriage also established the permissible social relations allowed to the offspring, including the acceptable selection of future spouses. Until the late 20th century, marriage was rarely a matter of free choice. In Western societies love between spouses came to be associated with marriage, but even in Western cultures (as the novels of writers such as Henry James and Edith Wharton attest) romantic love was not the primary motive for matrimony in most eras, and one’s marriage partner was carefully chosen. Endogamy, the practice of marrying someone from within one’s own tribe or group, is the oldest social regulation of marriage. When the forms of communication with outside groups are limited, endogamous marriage is a natural consequence. Cultural pressures to marry within one’s social, economic, and ethnic group are still very strongly enforced in some societies. Exogamy, the practice of marrying outside the group, is found in societies in which kinship relations are the most complex, thus barring from marriage large groups who may trace their lineage to a common ancestor. In societies in which the large, or extended, family remains the basic unit, marriages are usually arranged by the family. The assumption is that love between the partners comes after marriage, and much thought is given to the socioeconomic advantages accruing to the larger family from the match. By contrast, in societies in which the small, or nuclear, family predominates, young adults usually choose their own mates. It is assumed that love precedes (and determines) marriage, and less thought is normally given to the socioeconomic aspects of the match. In societies with arranged marriages, the almost universal custom is that someone acts as an intermediary, or matchmaker. This person’s chief responsibility is to arrange a marriage that will be satisfactory to the two families represented. Some form of dowry or bridewealth is almost always exchanged in societies that favour arranged marriages. Read More on This Topic St. Peter's Basilica on St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. Roman Catholicism: Marriage The inclusion of marriage among the sacraments gives the Roman Catholic Church jurisdiction over an institution that is of as much concern to the state as it is to the church. The church claims complete jurisdiction over the marriages of its members, even though… In societies in which individuals choose their own mates, dating is the most typical way for people to meet and become acquainted with prospective partners. Successful dating may result in courtship, which then usually leads to marriage. Marriage rituals The rituals and ceremonies surrounding marriage in most cultures are associated primarily with fecundity and validate the importance of marriage for the continuation of a clan, people, or society. They also assert a familial or communal sanction of the mutual choice and an understanding of the difficulties and sacrifices involved in making what is considered, in most cases, to be a lifelong commitment to and responsibility for the welfare of spouse and children. Marriage ceremonies include symbolic rites, often sanctified by a religious order, which are thought to confer good fortune on the couple. Because economic considerations play an essential role in the success of child rearing, the offering of gifts, both real and symbolic, to the married couple are a significant part of the marriage ritual. Where the exchange of goods is extensive, either from the bride’s family to the bridegroom’s or vice versa, this usually indicates that the freedom to choose one’s marital partner has been limited and determined by the families of the betrothed. Shintō: wedding ceremony Shintō: wedding ceremonyLearn about traditional Shintō wedding ceremonies in Japan.Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Fertility rites intended to ensure a fruitful marriage exist in some form in all ceremonies. Some of the oldest rituals still to be found in contemporary ceremonies include the prominent display of fruits or of cereal grains that may be sprinkled over the couple or on their nuptial bed, the accompaniment of a small child with the bride, and the breaking of an object or food to ensure a successful consummation of the marriage and an easy childbirth. The most universal ritual is one that symbolizes a sacred union. This may be expressed by the joining of hands, an exchange of rings or chains, or the tying of garments. However, all the elements in marriage rituals vary greatly among different societies, and components such as time, place, and the social importance of the event are fixed by tradition and habit. These traditions are, to a certain extent, shaped by the religious beliefs and practices found in societies throughout the world. In the Hindu tradition, for example, weddings are highly elaborate affairs, involving several prescribed rituals. Marriages are generally arranged by the parents of the couple, and the date of the ceremony is determined by careful astrological calculations. Among most Buddhists marriage remains primarily a secular affair, even though the Buddha offered guidelines for the responsibilities of lay householders. In Judaism marriage is believed to have been instituted by God and is described as making the individual complete. Marriage involves a double ceremony, which includes the formal betrothal and wedding rites (prior to the 12th century the two were separated by as much as one year). The modern ceremony begins with the groom signing the marriage contract before a group of witnesses. He is then led to the bride’s room, where he places a veil on her. This is followed by the ceremony under the huppa (a canopy that symbolizes the bridal bower), which involves the reading of the marriage contract, the seven marriage benedictions, the groom’s placing a ring on the bride’s finger (in Conservative and Reform traditions the double ring ceremony has been introduced), and, in most communities, the crushing of a glass under foot. After the ceremony the couple is led into a private room for seclusion, which symbolizes the consummation of the marriage. From its beginnings, Christianity has emphasized the spiritual nature and indissolubility of marriage. Jesus Christ spoke of marriage as instituted by God, and most Christians consider it a permanent union based upon mutual consent. Some Christian churches count marriage as one of the sacraments; other Christians confirm the sanctity of marriage but do not identify it as a sacrament. Since the Middle Ages, Christian weddings have taken place before a priest or minister, and the ceremony involves the exchange of vows, readings from Scripture, a blessing, and, sometimes, the eucharistic rite. marriage: Christian wedding ceremony marriage: Christian wedding ceremonyA bride and groom receiving Communion during their wedding ceremony.© Bogdan Sonjachnyj/Shutterstock.com In Islam marriage is not strictly a sacrament but is always understood as a gift from God or a kind of service to God. The basic Islamic tenets concerning marriage are laid out in the Qurʾān, which states that the marital bond rests on “mutual love and mercy” and that spouses are “each other’s garments.” Muslim men may have up to four wives at one time (though they seldom do), but the wives must all be treated equitably. Marriages are traditionally contracted by the father or guardian of the bride and her intended husband, who must offer his bride the mahr, a payment offered as a gift to guarantee her financial independence. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Learn More in these related Britannica articles: * A Bedouin family sitting in front of their tent in the Sahara desert. family law: Legal consequences of marriage Two persons might produce the economic incidents of marriage by executing appropriate contracts or settlements. In some legal systems, a contract in conventional form is the core of the constitution of marriage. The contract may be complex, with a variety of clauses, as in… * family …united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings. The family group should be distinguished from a household, which may include boarders and roomers sharing a common residence.… * exchange marriage Exchange marriage, form of marriage involving an arranged and reciprocal exchange of spouses between two groups. Exchange marriage is most common in societies that have a unilineal descent system emphasizing the male line (patrilineality) and a consistent expectation of postmarital residence with or near the groom’s family (patrilocality). In such… * Encyclopædia Britannica: first edition, map of Europe history of Europe: Aspects of early modern society …the advancing age of first marriage for women. Medieval girls were very young at first marriage, barely past puberty; these young girls were given to mature grooms who were in their middle or late 20s. By the late 16th century, parish marriage registers show that brides were nearly the same… * Encyclopædia Britannica: first edition, map of Europe history of Europe: Social upheaval …to beliefs in a romantic marriage, which became part of the new family ideal. Marriage age for middle-class women also dropped, creating an age disparity between men and women in the families of this class. Economic criteria for family formation remained important in many social sectors, but young people enjoyed… ADDITIONAL MEDIA * A bride and groom posing with their wedding guests in Nigeria. More About Marriage 74 references found in Britannica articles Assorted References * annulment + In annulment * anthropology + In anthropology: Social and cultural anthropology * celibacy + In celibacy: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity * coverture + In coverture * demography of Spain + In Spain: Demographic trends * income tax + In income tax: Treatment of the family * major references + In family law: Legal consequences of marriage + In family * marriage law + In marriage law * significance in court testimony + In evidence: Privileges (BUTTON) View More External Websites * Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute - Marriage * The Catholic Encyclopedia - History of Marriage * The Spruce Eats - How Long Has the Institution of Marriage Existed For? Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. * marriage - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Article History Article Contributors Feedback Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. curiosity promo Marriage marriage: Hindu wedding ceremony View All Media key people + Dayananda Sarasvati + Caroline Norton + Aleksandra Mikhaylovna Kollontay + Mahadev Govind Ranade + Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar + Euthymius I + Nicholas I + Ben B. Lindsey + Edward Westermarck + Maurice Freedman related topics + Same-sex marriage + Social structure + Family + Marriage law + Adultery + Dowry + Banns of marriage + Polygyny + Harem + Polyandry Advertisement More About This Topic * Roman Catholicism: Marriage * Eastern Orthodoxy: Marriage * Turkey: Marriage and family life * Population: Marriage * Family law: Legal consequences of marriage * California Indian: Marriage and child rearing Related Topics * Same-sex marriage * Dayananda Sarasvati * Nürnberg Laws * Lateran Treaty * Adultery * Caroline Norton * Harem * Separation * Agunah * Common-law marriage Similar Topics * Crime * Governance * Kinship * Censorship * War * Punishment * Terrorism * Regulation * Revolution * Social group Featured On Britannica * Unbound / Sports & Recreation 2018 Year in Review: Sports Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah (in white) against Russian players Denis Cheryshev and Sergei Ignashevich during World Cup 2018 match Russia vs Egypt in Saint Petersburg, Russia. * Unbound / Society 2018 Year in Review: What The…?!! Yellow speech post it balloon with exclamation marks and question marks. Exclamation point, speech bubble * Unbound / History 2018 Year in Review: Anniversaries Defenestration of Prague, this incident marks the beginning of the Thirty Years' War in 1618. * Unbound / Arts & Culture 2018 Year in Review: Entertainment Idris Elba poses at the 'Yardie' photo call during the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 22, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Britannica Lists & Quizzes * Musical instruments Music Quiz Australian Popular Music * Meeting of leaders in W.W.I, General Hindenburg, Kaiser William II, General Ludendorff examine maps during World War I in Germany. History List Military Commanders of World War I * tennis racket and tennis ball Sports & Recreation Quiz Australian Open * German machine gunners occupy a trench during World War I. History List Weapons of World War I Trending Topics * Shehu Shagari * St. Thomas Becket * Victoria * Watergate scandal * Feast of the Holy Family * Ring of Fire * Zoroastrianism * Martin Luther * Indian Mutiny * Dunkirk evacuation * Introduction * Marital customs and laws * Marriage rituals Edit Mode Marriage (BUTTON) Tips for Editing (BUTTON) Leave Edit Mode (BUTTON) Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. 1. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. 2. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. 3. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. 4. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. (BUTTON) (BUTTON) Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. (BUTTON) Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. (BUTTON) Close Keep Exploring Britannica Obama, Barack; voting Democracy Democracy, literally, rule by the people. The term is derived from the Greek dēmokratiā, which was coined… Read this Article [default3.png] Troy Perry Troy Perry, American religious leader, gay rights and human rights activist, and founder of the Universal… Read this Article Underground mall at the main railway station in Leipzig, Ger. Marketing Marketing, the sum of activities involved in directing the flow of goods and services from producers… Read this Article (BUTTON) View More Stay Connected Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Newsletters * About Us * About Our Ads * Partner Program * Contact Us * Privacy Policy * Terms of Use ©2019 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 250 thistle logo menu Menu * Home * Demystified * Quizzes * Galleries * Lists * On This Day * Biographies * Newsletters * ______________________________________________________________ * Login * Join Contents Contents Marriage description Article collections Media print Print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: * [ ] Table Of Contents Print bookmark Cite share Share Share Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Email chat Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Select feedback type: [Select a type (Required)___] ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Submit Feedback If you prefer to suggest your own revision of the article, you can go to edit mode (requires login). Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! share Share Share Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Email search search Search ____________________ close Email this page Email to ____________________ Email from ____________________ Subject ____________________ Comments ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Cancel (BUTTON) Send × (BUTTON) close Explore Britannica's 2018 Year in Review. [thistle-white.svg] Advertisement Discover some of the most interesting and trending topics of 2018. Read More