Homogamy, Hypergamy, Hypogamy

This is a marriage between individuals who are, in some culturally important way, similar to each other. Homogamy may be based on socioeconomic status, class, gender, ethnicity, or religion. Concerning age homogamy, there is an old maxim, "Never date anyone under half your age plus seven." This rule of thumb is sometimes used to judge whether the age differences in potential intimate relationships are socially acceptable within a Western-oriented culture. Homogamy can also refer to the socialization customs of a particular group; such that people who are similar in religion, class, gender, or culture tend to socialize with one another.

Hypergamy, or marrying up is the practice of marrying someone wealthier, or of higher caste or status than oneself. The term is not gender specific, but it is generally used by social scientists to refer to women marrying higher-status men, rather than to men marrying higher-status women.

Hypogamy typically refers to instances of marrying a person of lower social class or status. So, this hypergamist and hypogamist got married and lived happily ever after.

Strange Marriage Customs

For the 3 days and 3 nights following weddings of Tidong people from northern Borneo, both the bride and groom are prohibited from urinating, defecating, or bathing. They believe that custom will lead to a long, happy, and fertile marriage. In order to achieve this, the newlyweds are allowed to eat and drink only very small amounts and are watched very closely for compliance by family members.

Friends of Scottish brides-to-be take her by surprise and cover her with eggs, spoiled milk, feathers, and other disgusting slop and parade her around town. The purpose is to prepare the bride for marriage, because it will make marital problems seem easier by comparison.

Polterabend is a German pre-wedding tradition where friends and family come together for an informal party and break dishes, flowerpots, tiles, toilets, etc., except glasses or mirrors. The bride and groom must clean everything up to symbolize working together through future difficulties. BTW - married men, on average, change their underwear twice as often as single men.

Better Marriage Blanket

I can't even make this stuff up. Here is a blanket that is billed to make your marriage better. LINK There go all those cheesy fart jokes.

Speaking of Marriage

Here is a great video of a marriage ceremony guaranteed to make you laugh. LINK

Marriage

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong admit it;
Whenever you’re right shut up.

Marriage and TV

Ages of Marriage:
Twenty is when you watch TV after.
Forty is when you watch TV during.
Sixty is when you watch TV instead.