What are the 5 main types of marriages?

Civil marriage

In France, a couple wishing to marry must have a civil ceremony before the religious ceremony. A ceremony officiant who fails to comply with this law is subject to sanctions.

The future spouses must of course be adults and not already be involved in an official union in France or abroad.

The marriage will take place in the municipality of residence of one of the two future spouses or in the city of residence of one of the parents.

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Christian marriage

The Christian Church is made up of three main branches including Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity and Protestantism.

As we will see, each has its own specificities.

A Catholic wedding takes place in a church, usually the church of the bride-to-be's parish. In the Catholic religion, marriage is a sacrament . Only baptized people can be united in a religious ceremony in a church. If you are divorced, you cannot marry again in a sacred place.

Traditionally, there is a six-month preparation period before the wedding. This is a period during which you meet other newlyweds and discuss love , forgiveness , and life as a couple in general.

Protestant marriages, on the other hand, can take place in a temple or elsewhere. Marriage is a simple blessing , a religious and spiritual commitment. In this sense, the pastor gives a Bible to the future couple during the ceremony. Here, contraception, abortion, and divorce are tolerated by the Protestant Church.

For the preliminary preparation, 4 to 6 interviews can take place with the pastor in order to prepare the ceremony itself, and to discuss the words of the chosen biblical texts in relation to the life of the couple.

Orthodox marriage , like Catholic marriage, is a sacrament . It also takes place in a church. However, the date of the ceremony will not be chosen by the fiancés but by the Pope (Orthodox priest) according to the liturgical calendar. As in Protestantism, divorce is tolerated. A divorced person may remarry in a church with a specific ritual beginning with an act of penance.

Jewish marriage

For this celebration, the bride and groom, as well as their parents, must be of the Jewish faith . Marriage is considered a purification of the couple.

The ceremony will be preceded by classes with the rabbi, including the study of Niddah (Jewish laws that govern the relationship between spouses, both toward each other and separately). The date of the celebration will be chosen during this preparation of the spouses.

On this day, they will have to practice fasting . The groom will wear a wedding shawl, called the tallit , then both placed under the huppah, the wedding canopy, they will be blessed by the rabbi. Then the marriage certificate, the ketubah , will be read before the ritual of the 7 blessings .

The groom will then give the wedding ring to his bride, put on his own wedding ring, and then break a glass, symbolizing the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The celebration of this new union can then begin!

Muslim marriage

The wedding is celebrated either in a mosque, at the bride's parents' home, or in the bride and groom's future home by the imam. Marriage in the Muslim religion is a very important act. It is considered a contract called " nikah ," based according to the Quran on " the love and compassion that God has infused into the hearts of man and woman so that they form a couple ."

The day before the wedding, the bride undergoes a henna ceremony during which symbols are drawn on her hands to bring happiness and ward off the evil eye.

The wedding celebration lasts several days. Traditionally, it could take place over 7 days , but in France today, it generally lasts 3 days. During these 3 days, the bride will parade her outfits , each one as sumptuous as the next, as tradition dictates that she changes seven times during the celebration.

The ceremony will begin with praise to Allah during the Kuhtbah . Men and women will be separated during the recitation of the prayer. Then, the dowry or " mahr " that the husband must pay to his wife will be mentioned during the exchange of vows. The exchange of rings may take place, as well as the marriage certificate.

Hindu marriage

In the Hindu religion, marriage is seen as a sacrament . It is the starting point of a very important stage of life called " Grihistha Ashrama ".

Harmony, happiness and growth are the three pillars of Hindu marriage.

Just like Muslims, the wedding can last several days , up to 12 depending on the family.

Traditionally, the woman wears a red sari, the man a wedding hat, and the man wears a white sweater.

The highlight of the celebration, called " Saptapadi " is when the bride and groom circle the sacred fire seven times , accompanied by the recitation of mantras by the pandit.

The number 7 represents the promises made and the seven lives the couple will have together. In India, divorce is only permissible in extreme cases.

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