Native american marriage customs

It's interesting:
"You'd think I'd know better than to be out drinking in the early hours of the morning the night before a big wedding - but Paul's a mate and he needed some ..."

Native American weddings differ from traditional European-style weddings in terms of courtship rituals, exchanging of wedding gifts and post-ceremony festivities. However, lifelong commitments and family guidance were moral obligations of a Native American couple, something they share with couples from non-Native American cultures. Some tribes continue to perform their traditional marriage rituals in the present day.

1. Sioux

   • Young Sioux couples disappeared into the wilderness for several days or weeks before their union. This retreat allowed the couple to spend time alone from the rest of the tribe. When they returned, the Sioux tribe declared this couple to be married. After the declaration, the tribe's high priest bestowed a marital blessing on the couple. Also, the families of the couple exchanged gifts with one another.

   Cherokee

   • Cherokee clans are matrilineal -- meaning the mother's surname is passed down from mother to daugher -- which made marriage within the clan forbidden. At a Cherokee wedding, the bride's mother and eldest brother present the bride to the groom- the groom's mother accompanied the groom. Rather than exchange wedding rings, the groom gave the bride a venison, which represented his role as the family's provider, and the bride gave the groom an ear of corn, a representation of her devotion as as wife.

   Apache

   • When courting a potential wife, Apache men offered horses to the girl's parents. The horses were viewed as a recompense for the duties the girl offered to her parent's house. A period of feasting occurs within the Apache tribe once the couple's wedding is announced. The tribe forbids the couple talk with each other during the first two nights of the festivities. On the third night of the festivities, the couple sneak away from the tribe to be alone. After the wedding, Apache men take approximately 10 days to prepare a home for the couple.

   Chickasaw

   • Chickasaw men would send a gift to a girl he was interested in marrying. If the girl's parents consented to the suitor, they would allow the girl to see the gift. Accepting the gift meant the girl also consented, which created the marriage bargain between the couple. The man would arrive at the girl's home and dine with his future father-in-law. After dinner, the girl's bedroom was prepared for the young couple. Once the man entered the girl's room and the couple were considered married.

   Seminole

   • Similarly to Chickasaw Native Americans, Seminole men would send relatives to a prospective brides home to relay his intentions. However, Seminole men did not offer gifts to prospective brides. If the bride and her parents consented to the match, the wedding was announced. Female relatives of the groom go to the bride's home and prepare a bed for the couple's wedding night. The wedding ceremony was an informal affair- the groom arrived to the bride's home, where she received him as her husband. After the wedding, the newlyweds moved in the girl's mother's house.

Source: www.ehow.com

Tags: After wedding, american marriage, american marriage customs, bride home, couple wedding