Курсовая работа: Old and new wedding customs and traditions in Great Britain and the USA
The ceremony does not have to be in any particular form. Any form of ceremony to solemnize a marriage that the parties choose ordinarily suffices, so long as there is an agreement by words of present assent. The words used or the ceremony performed are mere evidence of a present intention and agreement of the parties. A marriage ceremony is usually performed for the sake of notoriety and certainty and must be conducted by a person authorized by law to perform the ceremony.
The purpose of inviting guests is to have them witness a couple's marriage ceremony and vows and to share in their joy and celebration. Gifts for the wedding couple are optional, although most guests attempt to give at least a token gift of their best wishes. Some couples and families feel, contrary to proper etiquette, that in return for the expense they put into entertaining and feeding their guests, the guests should pay them with similarly expensive gifts or cash.
The couple oftenregisters for giftsat a store well in advance of their wedding. This allows them to create a list of household items, usually including china, silverware and crystal ware, linens or other fabrics, pots and pans,etc.Registries are intended to aid guests in selecting gifts the newlyweds truly want, and the service is sufficiently profitable that most retailers, from luxury shops to discount stores, offer the opportunity. Registry information should, according to etiquette, be provided only to guests upon direct request, and never included in the invitation.Some couples additionally or instead register with services that enable money gifts intended tofund items such as a honeymoon, home purchase or college fund. Some find bridal registries inappropriate as they contravene traditional notions behind gifts, such as that all gifts are optional and delightful surprises personally chosen by the giver, and that registries lead to a type of price-based competition, as the couple knows the cost of each gift. Traditionally, weddings were considered a personal event and inviting people to the wedding who are not known to at least one member of the couple well enough to be able to choose an appropriate gift was considered inappropriate, and registries should therefore be unnecessary.Whether considered appropriate or not, others believe that weddings are opportunities to extract funds or specific gifts from as many people as possible, and that even an invitation carries an expectation of monetary reward rather than merely congratulations.
Letters of thanks for any gift are traditionally sent promptly after the gift's receipt. Tradition allows wedding gifts to be sent up to a year after the wedding date. Thanks should be sent as soon as possible, preferably within two weeks.
After the second chapter we can make the following conclusions.
The American wedding ceremony is well-known in the world. Its traditions are not so strict as British. Americans can marry in the church or at a Register office. Usually the ceremony is brief. After the ceremony the marriage certificate is also given. Actually, the certificate is the notary's way of certifying that he or she performed the ceremony.
CONCLUSION
In our course paper we dealt with two different types of marriage in two different countries. We got to know how is the preparation going on and what the ceremony itself represents. We viewed all the main traditions of this custom both in Britain and America, compared them, found some differences and similarities.
We determined the main objects of the work and developed the tasks of subject.
In the first chapter we told about the marriage ceremony in Britain, have characterized it’s essential parts and necessary things. The first part of preparation for marriage is engagement. The groom should get an acquaintance with the bride’s parents and make a good impression on them. After the agreement the main preparation begins. In Britain there are a lot of different types of marriage. Some of them need marriage licence. And after the ceremony newlyweds get marriage certificate. Also we described participants of marriage ceremony and their responsibilities. In the second chapter we told about American wedding traditions. We carefully studied the oldest traditions and compared them with nowadays wedding. We also observed preparations and the main subjects of ceremony.
Consequently we solved problems and objects of our work and developed the main ideas and aims of task. That’s why we can say that wedding is a very important custom in human life. Wedding is the most beautiful and happy holiday. It is full of love and hopes. After finishing our work we know everything about wedding traditions and customs^ what is the engagement, how are the preparations going on and what parts the ceremony consists of.
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