Why marriage was called marriage? Answer

Surely everyone has ever thought about why marriage was called marriage. At first glance, this word is not associated with family relations. Therefore, it is worth digging deeper and understanding this issue.

Official version

Why marriage was called marriage? According to the official version, this word came from the Old Slavonic language. It is connected with the verb "brothers", which meant marriage (to take the bride). By adding the suffix -k, a word was obtained in its modern meaning. Also some analogies can be found in the Ukrainian language. The word "brother" means "get married".

And what about the common jokes about the meaning of the word "marriage"? Like, why marriage was called marriage, if this term means a flaw? In this context, the word has German meaning and was introduced into Russian during the time of Peter I. Thus, these are two completely different marriages that are not connected in any way.

Unofficial version

Why marriage was called marriage? The unofficial version sends us to Slavic mythology. In accordance with the ancient beliefs, the goddess Vesta knew all about the intricacies of marriage, the upbringing of children and farming. This is a standard of a loving and caring wife. This name was used for all girls who acquired such knowledge. Only they were taken to be married.

But those girls who did not have family wisdom and knowledge, called the Bride (that is, unprepared for marriage). But if alliances with them were concluded, they were called marriages (something wrong). But this version does not pretend to be scientific.

It sounds different, but the value is the same

Why marriage was called marriage? To understand this issue, you need to study the etymology of the word and analyze its meaning in different cultures. So, with the Old Slavic meaning of "marriage" we have already figured out. Both in French and in Latin, this word also means "take, have." And now let's take a little look at the wedding ritual itself. After all, people exchange rings and take each other's hands. Thus, in virtually all cultures, "marriage" is the union of people through the squeezing of hands. This is a kind of symbol of a strong union of husband and wife.

Dictionary of Dal

Why did the marriage of a man and a woman be called marriage? An indirect answer to this question can be found in the dictionary of Dahl. In it the word "marriage" is correlated with the word "brachy", which means food, food. Thus, marriage is a feast. And what is accompanied by almost any wedding? Of course, a magnificent meal. Here is an analogy.

Modern reasoning

It's no secret that modern young people do not take formal relations seriously, like their parents, as well as grandparents. Therefore, the question of why the union is called a marriage, they have their own opinion. So, many believe that love and the law are incompatible things. Some even find confirmation in the Bible: "For in lawlessness was conceived ...". That is, people were not bound by any official ties.

Why is cohabitation called a civil marriage?

From the point of view of modern legislation, the phrase "civil marriage" does not at all correlate with cohabitation without formalizing official relations. In accordance with the Family Code, this is just the same as officially registered family relations. But if you go into the history, it becomes clear that people use this term, denoting cohabitation, is not at all groundless.

The fact is that until 1918 in Russia, marriages were solely in the church (that is, through the wedding). But representatives of some religions (sectarians or Old Believers) for religious reasons could not go through this procedure. Therefore, their relationship took the form of writing in a metric book. It is this phenomenon, from the point of view of representatives of the church, received the name of "civil marriage". And it had no legal consequences. That is, when the cohabitation was terminated, the spouses could not divide the property. And in the event of the death of one of them, the second did not have the right to be an heir.

Why the term "civil marriage" has become so widespread in modern society? Yes, simply because the word "cohabitation" has negative associations. In addition, for such a relationship is more appropriate definition of "actual marriage", but it did not take root in society.

Types of marriage in accordance with modern legislation

When it became clear why marriage is called a marriage, it is advisable to study the types of this phenomenon in accordance with modern legislation. So, in the Family Code and other normative legal acts such varieties are distinguished:

• Civil marriage is a relationship registered and formalized in accordance with the law and without the participation of the church. In domestic legislation, this type of marriage is the only one that is subject to legal norms.
• Church marriage - the relationship, formalized through the religious ceremony of the wedding. In some countries, it has legal force on a par with what is registered in state bodies. Nevertheless, the domestic law of the church marriage is not official and does not have any legal force. In this regard, in many churches priests hold a wedding only if the marriage was previously registered in the registry office.
• The actual marriage is unregistered marriage-like relationships, which in legislation are often called cohabitation. Even if people have a joint household and have common children, they do not have any marriage rights and obligations.
• Civil partnership (or union) is a practice prevalent mainly in Western countries. This is an intermediate form between cohabitation and registered marriage. Despite the fact that the relationship is not formally formalized, the so-called "spouses" have some rights and responsibilities. The peculiarity is that such a form of marriage is available to same-sex couples.
• Fictitious marriage is the official registration of marriage without the intention of the parties to create an actual family in the generally accepted sense. Usually, the motives for concluding such an agreement are obtaining citizenship or political asylum, claiming an inheritance, receiving state benefits or any other self-serving ends.

Conclusion

Around family relations, there have been many disputes lately. For example: why is marriage called marriage? After studying all the theories of the origin of this word, as well as acquaintance with its meanings in other languages of the world, one gets the impression that the most plausible version is associated with the word "hand". That is, they are people who hold hands. No matter how jokes around the word "marriage", it is generally accepted and appears in all normative legal acts.