Number of Pages 5

This research paper: This is a 5 page paper discussing the change in marital ceremonies and structure before and after the Spanish invasion and the introduction of the Catholic Church in Latin America. The traditional marriage ceremonies and marriage social structures which occurred in the communities of the Indians of Latin America before the arrival and the instigation of the Catholic Church by the Spaniards were vastly different than those which occurred after the invasion of the Spaniards. Firstly, traditional Indian marriages were organized by matchmakers and arranged by extensive negotiations by the adult family members. The ceremonies were performed by the local priests without words or involvement of the couple or their families. Marriages were based on alliances between families for political reasons and most often, the couple did not know each other before the union. Marriages were allowed between close cousins, and divorces and polygamy were common practices. After the Catholic Church came to Latin America, matchmakers and family members were not allowed during the pre-marital organization of the ceremony. This took place between the couple and the clergy who would perform the ceremony in the Church. Couples were encouraged by the Catholic Church to marry for love as they were not allowed divorce or polygamy. Family members were encouraged to remain out of the affairs of the couples and couples were told to come to the Church for any counseling in family matters. Previous to the Spanish invasion, married couples may have lived in nuclear families, in extended families, or often, the wives would remain with their own family. After the Church organized the marriage, couples were encouraged to set up their own house away from that of their families’. The structure of the communities and family social alliances were no longer considered valid in regards to marriage in the rules of the Church. In addition to the sacrament of marriage, couples were also required to have the sacrament of baptism before they were allowed to marry in the Catholic Church which required yet another change in traditional ceremony. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

File: D0_TJmarit1.rtf

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