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(Redirected from Fiancee)
_-_The_Proposal_(1872).jpg)
An 'engagement' is an agreement or promise to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. During this period, a couple is said to be 'affianced,' 'engaged to be married,' or simply 'engaged.'
The concept of an engagement period may have begun in 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council, headed by Pope Innocent III, which decreed that "marriages are to be ... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time, so that if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known."[1][2] The modern Western form of the practice of giving or exchanging engagement rings 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.[3][4]
Main articles: Engagement ring
In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, an engagement ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand; the custom in Continental Europe and other countries is to wear it on the right 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 Celtic 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, but not all, engagements are honored with an engagement party, often hosted by the bride's parents. It may be formal or informal, and is typically held between six months and a year before the wedding. Traditionally, engagement parties allowed the bride's parents to announce the impending marriage to friends and families. Today, such an event can either be an announcement or simply a celebration.
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.
Main articles: Proposal of marriage
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?" In a heterosexual relationship, the man traditionally proposes to the woman, but this is no longer universal. In Ireland the 29th of February is said to be the one day (coming round only once every four years) when a woman can propose to her partner. In the United States, it is traditional to call friends and family members immediately after the proposal has been accepted.
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. Furthermore, betrothals, though they can be broken, often have binding legal implications lacking in engagements.
Main articles: Breach of Promise
In some jurisdictions, until the 20th century, it was possible for a woman (but almost never a man), to sue if an engagement was broken, based on denial of the chance to "establish herself" and possible damage to her reputation.
★ Banns of marriage
★ Betrothal
★ Engagement ring
1. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html
2. http://www.utunumsint.org/lateran%20iv.htm
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20050316114519/http://can.adiamondisforever.com/F/f5b.htm
4. http://www.royalfinejewelers.com/Articles/Article.aspx?id=52
_-_The_Proposal_(1872).jpg)
William-Adolphe Bouguereau The Proposal
An 'engagement' is an agreement or promise to marry, and also refers to the time between proposal and marriage. During this period, a couple is said to be 'affianced,' 'engaged to be married,' or simply 'engaged.'
| Contents |
| The engagement period |
| Engagement rings |
| Engagement parties |
| Related terms |
| Fiancé(e) |
| Proposal |
| Betrothal |
| Breach of Promise |
| See also |
| Notes |
The engagement period
The concept of an engagement period may have begun in 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council, headed by Pope Innocent III, which decreed that "marriages are to be ... announced publicly in the churches by the priests during a suitable and fixed time, so that if legitimate impediments exist, they may be made known."[1][2] The modern Western form of the practice of giving or exchanging engagement rings 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.[3][4]
Engagement rings
Main articles: Engagement ring
A woman displays her engagement ring.
In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, an engagement ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand; the custom in Continental Europe and other countries is to wear it on the right 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 Celtic 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.
Engagement parties
Some, but not all, engagements are honored with an engagement party, often hosted by the bride's parents. It may be formal or informal, and is typically held between six months and a year before the wedding. Traditionally, engagement parties allowed the bride's parents to announce the impending marriage to friends and families. Today, such an event can either be an announcement or simply a celebration.
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.
Classic "one-knee" proposal, ca. 1815
Proposal
Main articles: Proposal of marriage
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?" In a heterosexual relationship, the man traditionally proposes to the woman, but this is no longer universal. In Ireland the 29th of February is said to be the one day (coming round only once every four years) when a woman can propose to her partner. In the United States, it is traditional to call friends and family members immediately after the proposal has been accepted.
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. Furthermore, betrothals, though they can be broken, often have binding legal implications lacking in engagements.
Breach of Promise
Main articles: Breach of Promise
In some jurisdictions, until the 20th century, it was possible for a woman (but almost never a man), to sue if an engagement was broken, based on denial of the chance to "establish herself" and possible damage to her reputation.
See also
★ Banns of marriage
★ Betrothal
★ Engagement ring
Notes
1. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html
2. http://www.utunumsint.org/lateran%20iv.htm
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20050316114519/http://can.adiamondisforever.com/F/f5b.htm
4. http://www.royalfinejewelers.com/Articles/Article.aspx?id=52
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