ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

Marriage

Marriage

Definition and Concept

Marriage is a formal, established connection between two or more persons, recognized by natural law, social law, or religious teachings. It is usually ritually or legally regulated and finds its expression in ceremonies such as weddings.

The exact definition of marriage has changed throughout history and cultures, but most common characteristics include:

* Creating a public and binding relationship
* Providing different legal and social status for the spouses
* Limiting the relationship to spouses who are not first-degree relatives

History and Evolution

Marriage has been an integral part of human society, with its definition and concept evolving over time. In modern times, there are two common ways a marriage arrangement is established:

1. **Religious Marriage**: This approach regulates the connection in a religious framework, where the couple sustains the process required for marriage by virtue of their religion or through a religious institution granting them marital status.
2. **Civil Marriage**: This concept enables civil marriage, where the state, as a secular body, grants marital status to the couple.

Characteristics and Implications

Marriage is an institutional double life system that allows individuals to live together and establish a family. It has psychological, legal, and religious implications, including:

* Creating a public and binding relationship
* Providing different legal and social status for the spouses
* Limiting the relationship to spouses who are not first-degree relatives

Significance in Society

Marriage is a vital institution for society, serving as a passport ritual that seals the passage of individuals from one situation to another. It is an institution defined as the socially recognized union of two or more persons.

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