Engagement
39386
225816528
2008-07-15T15:20:02Z
DjKrisz
5424202
/* Engagement rings */
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{{redirect|Engaged|the play by W. S. Gilbert|Engaged (play)}}
{{redirect2|Fiance|Fiancee|Fiance}}
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{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}
[[Image:William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - The Proposal (1872).jpg|right|thumb|[[William-Adolphe Bouguereau]]<br>''The Proposal'']]
An '''engagement''' is a promise to [[marriage|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 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."<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/lateran4.html Medieval Sourcebook: Twelfth Ecumenical Council: Lateran IV 1215<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.utunumsint.org/lateran%20iv.htm</ref> Such a formal church announcement of the intent to marry is known as [[banns]]. In some jurisdictions, reading the banns may be part of one type of legal marriage.
The modern Western form of the practice of giving or exchanging [[engagement ring]]s is traditionally thought to have begun in [[1477]] when [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], gave [[Mary of Burgundy]] a [[diamond]] [[Ring (finger)|ring]] as an engagement present.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050316114519/http://can.adiamondisforever.com/F/f5b.htm The Diamond Engagement Ring Tradition - History of the Diamond Engagement Ring<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.royalfinejewelers.com/Articles/Article.aspx?id=52 The History of the Engagement Ring<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Engagement rings==
{{main|Engagement ring}}
[[Image:Engagement Ring Memphis.jpg|thumb|A woman displays her engagement ring.]]
In the [[United States]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Ireland]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and many other countries, an [[engagement ring]] is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. This [[tradition]] is thought to be from the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], who believed this finger to be the beginning of the ''[[vena amoris]]'' ("vein of love"), the vein that leads to the heart. The custom in [[Continental Europe]] and other countries is to wear it on the right hand.
Romantic rings from the time of the Roman Empire and from as far back as [[4]] AD often resemble the [[Celt]]ic [[Claddagh ring|Claddagh]] symbol (two hands clasping a heart) and so it is thought that this was used as some symbol of love and commitment between two people. In some other countries from South America, like in Argentina, man and woman use each one a ring, and these are generally very similar to the wedding rings, with the difference that they are made of silver instead of gold. In Brazil they are always made of gold, and there is no tradition for the engagement ring. Both men and women wear the wedding band on their right hand while engaged and after they get married they shift to the left hand. It is typical for the woman's wedding band to contain two parts. One, which is given to her on the date of engagement, is customarily gold and contains small diamonds. The second is presented on the wedding day and has either more diamonds or one(s) of larger size. The two bands may be crafted into one. However, it has become common to have one wedding band.
==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 [[inflection]]al [[morphology (linguistics)|morphology]] of [[grammatical gender]] in [[French language|French]], where the term originated.
[[Image:1815-regency-proposal-woodcut.gif|thumb|200px|right|Classic "one-knee" proposal, ca. 1815]]
===Proposal===
{{main|Proposal of marriage}}
The classic proposal position is 'down on one knee' shown in the picture to the right.
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. [[February 29]]th is said to be the one day (coming round only once every four years) when a woman can propose to her partner.<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/february29.asp snopes.com: February 29 Proposal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
===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 can be broken, but often have binding legal implications lacking in engagements.
===Breach of promise===
{{main|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.
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Marriage]]
[[ar:خطوبة]]
[[da:Forlovelse]]
[[de:Verlöbnis]]
[[es:Esponsales]]
[[eo:Fianĉiĝo]]
[[fr:Fiançailles]]
[[ko:약혼]]
[[hi:वाग्दान]]
[[it:Promessa di matrimonio]]
[[he:אירוסים]]
[[ka:ნიშნობა]]
[[nl:Verloving]]
[[ja:婚約]]
[[no:Forlovelse]]
[[pl:Zaręczyny]]
[[pt:Noivado]]
[[ru:Обручение]]
[[sq:Fejesa]]
[[simple:Engagement]]
[[fi:Kihlaus]]
[[sv:Förlovning]]
[[zh:訂婚]]