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Show and two matrons proceeded to in- struct the young couple on their new duties while incense was burned on the altar of the household house-hold gods. The wedding was followed fol-lowed by a banquet and four days later the new husband and wife went up to the temple to offer to the gods the nuptial mat. In case of divorce the man was responsible responsi-ble for the support of his sons while the wife was bound to take care of the daughter's. Remarriage of divorced persons was prohibited prohibit-ed under penalty of death. Marriages Mar-riages in Indian Peru were subject sub-ject to the will of the Inca, who was both ruler and priest. Every year, at a time determined by him, the bachelors of his court and the maiden princesses would be solemnly married in a mass ceremony, cere-mony, whether they liked it or not. The next day, officers from the Palace would spread through the town and marry, in a similar fashion, fash-ion, all those who were still single. sin-gle. Tradition has it, however, that very often, the young couples who were united in this odd way, had been "engaged" before and it was just the culmination of many a love affair. After her marriage, the wife went out very little and dedicated her life almost exclusively exclu-sively to spinning and weaving. More recent Latin American marriage customs are, of course, of Spanish ' tradition. Typical of the kind is this description of a New Mexican wedding which could probably have been the same in any of the Latin American countries. "When a young man wished to marry, his parents eith- KNOW YOURl NEIGHBOR RA.U. SOME CUSTOMS OF COURTSHIP COURT-SHIP AND MARRIAGE IN LATIN AMERICA Although it is true that quaint and picturesque traditions are rapidly disappearing from the world to give place to a uniform and more or less universal way of living, although gay senoritas in mantillas seldom lean, nowadays, against grilled balconies to hear the strains of serenading guitars, Latin America still retains some of its old time-honored courtship and marriage customs which are part of its Spanish heritage. To speak in any way of Latin Ameri- er called on or dispensed a very formal letter to the young lady's family, asking for her hand. If the parents or the girl disapproved of the suitor, a letter of refusal was sent within a few days. This was called 'giving the calabasas.' If on the contrary, the suit was acceptable, ac-ceptable, the necessary preparations prepara-tions were started at once as the wedding, closely followed upon the "prendorio" or engagement party. Invitations were sent out, "padri-nos" "padri-nos" (sponsors) selected, and an elaborate trousseau fitted. On the day appointed for the wedding, the bride and her parents were met at the church by the groom and his family. The best man took the bride's arm and walked up the aisle to the altar, the bridegroom bride-groom following with the bridesmaid. brides-maid. During the Mass tthat followed fol-lowed the actual marriage ceremony, cere-mony, the four principals (bride and groom and the sponsors) sat in the sanctuary holding lighted candles." This is called "velacion" (nuptial watch), a name which may also have its origin in the fact that a white veil or scarf is extended jointly over the head of the bride and the shoulders of the bridegroom during part of the ceremony. cer-emony. This custom is said to be Inspired by the story of Rebecca ca as a whole is difficult, however, and when it comes to local questions, ques-tions, even more. In spite of having hav-ing a generally common background back-ground and history, it covers a territory large enough to have per force, a thousand and one traditions, tradi-tions, all distinctive and influenced influ-enced by different factors. Little remains in present-day Latin American social customs of the Indian influence. Among the interesting marriage traditions that prevailed in pre-Columbian days are those of Mexico and Peru where, in the refined and organized orga-nized kingdoms of the Aztec and the Inca, respectively, life took place under a rigid and set ceremonial. cere-monial. An Aztec marriage was preceded by a contract which stated stat-ed that the bride's dowry would be given back to her in case of divorce. di-vorce. At the wedding itself the girl was led to her husband's home in a procession at which musicians were preceded by four women carrying car-rying torches. Upon arriving at the groom's home, both he and his future wife were seated on a mat where a priest tied one end of the bride's clothing to the prospective pro-spective husband's cloak. Following Follow-ing this ceremony two old men who covered her face with a veil upon seeing Isaac. After the wedding wed-ding a reception generally took place at the bride's home where traditional dances were often danced. Today, however, it is probably in its marriage traditions that Latin America has ,been more deeply influenced by customs of the United States. Weddings in the other republics of the Hemisphere Hemis-phere are becoming more and more similar to those of this country. coun-try. The day may come when the customs from the North and more from the South may merge and join into one tradition: that of the Americas. |