Marriage is the key institution of our culture: it is the main rite of passage, where the individual becomes a couple, which is the link between individuality and collectivity and the core element of Human society.
We have the simplest wedding ceremony in the world: in contrast to Foreign weddings, it is extremely plain. And it is not even necessary, although recommended: any consensual intimate act (holding hands, kissing, sex…) gets you married.
Typically, Humans get married when they are between 14 and 21 years old (when they are ragazzi). 14 is the minimum age and the best time to get married is what we call the ferment of youth, between 17 and a half and 21 years old.
When two young people understand that they love each other and that they want to live their life together, the boy sits on the right of the girl.
The girl gently holds his left hand with her right hand and they watch each other. Then the girl puts his hand on her thigh and presses it.
There it is, now they are a couple. Human couples last forever – for real, even after the death of a partner.
There are no priests, witnesses, oaths, blessings, rings, kisses, dresses, dances, fireworks, cakes, photographers and so on. We don’t need them: if you are pure and loyal, you don’t even have to say anything. For the same reason, we find Foreigners’ weddings kind of funny: a lot of smoke for a very little fire.
As you see, there is no difference between engagement and wedding, as there is no difference between partner, sweetheart, boyfriend/girlfriend, fiancé/fiancée, husband/wife and so on. We lack these sophisticated concepts: we only understand wedding, wife and husband.
For the same reason, there is no internal debate about premarital sex and sexual abstinence before marriage: if there is consensual sex or any other intimate act, then there is marriage. Our wedding “ceremony” is only what we consider the best way to get married, but you can get married even without it.
Il Vento d'Oriente 