Information AboutEngagement |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ENGAGEMENT | |
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THE ENGAGEMENT PERIOD The concept of an engagement period may have begun in s is traditionally thought to have begun in 1477 when Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor gave Mary Of Burgundy a Diamond Ring as an engagement present. [http://www.royalfinejewelers.com/Articles/Article.aspx?id=52 Engagements have no predetermined length, and may range from days to years. Customs surrounding engagement vary greatly, and may include a formal or informal announcement to friends, family, and community, or a celebratory party or gathering. In contemporary Western culture, it is not uncommon for couples to spend a considerable period of engagement, often allows a fiancé(e) of a US citizen to reside in the United States for up to ninety (90) days before marriage {Link without Title} . ENGAGEMENT RINGS An Engagement Ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This Tradition is thought to be from the Romans , who believed this finger to be the beginning of the vena amoris ("vein of love"), the vein that leads to the heart. Romantic rings from the time of the Roman Empire and from as far back as 4 AD often resemble the Celt ic Claddagh symbol (two hands clasping a heart) and so it is thought that this was used as some symbol of love and commitment between a man and a woman. Some others suggest that the rings could be symbolically linked to Slave Shackles , and thus symbolize the future bondage of Husband and Wife . However, much speculation about the origins of the engagement ring exists. See the link below for more information on the history of engagement rings. ENGAGEMENT PARTIES Occasionally the engaged couple will have an engagement party. Traditionally the party is hosted by the fiancée's parents. Usually it is a relatively informal affair and only Hors D'oeuvres and drinks will be served. Traditionally, a speech is made by the couple, one or more of their parents, or both. Guests are not expected to bring gifts, but some choose to do so. The traditional gift is a teapot, but more contemporary gifts include money, champagne or high-quality wine, gift vouchers, household utensils, or flowers. RELATED TERMS Fiancé(e) A man who is engaged to be married is called his partner's fiancé; a woman similarly engaged is called her partner's '''fiancée'''. These words are pronounced identically in English; the separate feminine form exists because of the Inflectional Morphology of Grammatical Gender in French , where the term originated. The term '''fiancé(e)''' is also sometimes used as a Euphemism for a live-in lover, as was particularly common in Tabloid newspapers during the 1990s . Proposal Engagement is most often initiated by a proposal of marriage, or simply a '''proposal.''' The proposal often has a ritual quality, involving the presentation of the engagement ring and a formalized asking of a question such as "Will you marry me?" It is traditionally the man's task to propose to the woman, but this is no longer universal. Betrothal Engagement is similar to Betrothal , and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, betrothal often refers to agreements involving not only the couple but their families; the concept sometimes has a connotation of Arranged Marriage . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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