The most important aspect of marriage in Middle-Earth is to remember we must separate what we as players know from our real life modern world to that which is canon for Shadows of Isildur.
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This document will assist you in your endeavors of understanding Middle-Earth marriage. Please note that unless your character should know the information below based on their race, culture or background you should not be using it otherwise.
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MARRIAGE TRADITIONS AND CEREMONIES:
HUMAN
Region - Rhovanion
Beorning
- CEREMONY: Heads of either family give braided heather crowns to their kin to whom is marrying and the pair wear these during a gift-giving ceremony. The giving of these particular gifts to each other is the symbol of their union and can either be done privately or with their families. Like all grand ceremonies and celebrations of the Beornings, it is usually a time of great feasting.
- Amongst their own people litigants and other finer legalities of other Men are usually not a part of their lives and indeed, the laws of outsiders might tend to confuse them. Amongst their people, the Chieftain’s acceptance of a Union makes it legally valid. With the importance of trade with their fine products and their note as hard workers and fierce warriors, City Halls where they live tend to assist in understanding the requirement of legal documents.
- SYMBOL: To signify the marriage a Beorning man will give unto the woman a special fur or pelt cloak or wood-carved tool made by himself to demonstrate his protection and ability to support their futures. The woman will give unto the man a special jar of honey or a prized tunic to demonstrate her support and care in their futures. These tokens are usually kept safe and not carried in public.
Native Rhovanion
CEREMONY: Once the Acceptance has been sent from City Hall or once the Contracts are signed at the litigant’s office - the marriage is in effect and this is the most common of ceremonies to be had as Rhovanions are a pragmatic sort, modest and simple. It is common that during signings or the reading of the Acceptance, both which confirm the legitimacy of the union, that both man and woman wear blue. The act of getting married is usually a private, inter-family ordeal because marriages affect both sides of the union.
After the private ceremony takes place there is likely to be some public aspect, even if just a gathering at the local tavern as a bit of cheer is always welcome in Rhovanion against the stark reminder that is Mirkwood and all that it entails.
SYMBOL: To signify the marriage a Rhovanion man and woman will give each other a token which varies between regions of Rhovanion. The most notable is an embroidered kerchief with a close second of being a candle that is either never lit, lit only during the first night, lit only during the first hour of their children's birth, lit only upon either spouse's death, or lit only when attempting to produce a child. Superstitions and traditions with candle-lighting vary but the general idea is to be sparse for it is a symbol. These tokens are kept someplace safe and rarely ever worn or carried in public.
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