1 Iryna Likhashorska Kara Fleming RSCH 1203 9 September 2011 Marriage Customs and Arranged Marriages Google.com, www.

Desertnews.com The first article should be a credible source of information as it is written by a reporter Jennifer Garza. There is some advertising on the page, but the article seems to be unbiased and it is supported by the thoughts of historians. The author dwells on what traditional marriage is. For different cultures and nationalities marriage means a different thing. "Traditional marriage has varied immensely from society to society and time period," said Stephanie Coontz, who teaches history at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash. The author also speaks about polygamy and monogamy in marriage that took place before 18th century. "It's one man, many women," said Coontz, citing examples from the Old Testament. The marriage throughout all history has played many roles in the family: either gets the family out of the debt, plays crucial role in setting up peace relationships between opposite sides, a way to get to upscale class, etc,. The author speaks on the same-sex marriages. Those have been accepted by some cultures, but those are minority. It was prohibited by church 115 years ago. In the 1970s and '80s the states proclaimed some laws that defined marriage and roles, obligations of wives and husbands. Thus, historians say the notion of marriage will continue to change. altheweb.com, www.chinatownconnection.com The article Chinese Marriage and Traditions is credible as its written by Wong Yee Lee, the author who specializes in articles on leisure and travel. The information provided can be easily verified. According to the author in the ancient China arranged marriages were very popular as it was a way to survive for the poor families and get rid of a useless female in the family. Sometimes the newly-wed will see each other in the wedding ceremony for the first time, or marriage can be arranged even before the kids were born. Nowadays, matchmakers businesses take place as for some people it is difficult to find their true love. Before the marriage the newly-wedded couples exchange gifts with parents. An important thing is a dowry in Chinese wedding. It includes blackest, clothes, accessories, daily necessities

2 and etc. The bride has to prepare it before the wedding. Another important thing is choosing the day of the wedding, as it should be on a day that symbolizes goodness. The bridegroom usually picks ups the bride from her house and greets her parents. They are accompanied by bridesmaids and best men. At the wedding the newly-wed will cross-hand and drink each others wine. It is believed that after this ceremony the newly wed will love each other more dearly. Sometimes some games will take place at the wedding. Nowadays, not many couples follow all the old traditions. Searchedu.com, emp.byui.edu The article is posted by Department of Religious Education, Brigham Young University of Idaho, by Bruce Satterfield. The article presents credible information as its posted by educational organization. There is no advertising on the page. The author seems to be unbiased. The author compares modern Arab marriage customs and similar marriage customs that existed in biblical times. In the Middle East, it was the father who was responsible for procuring a bride for a son and sees that his daughter gets married. In some areas, it is the father who gets the wife for his son. In the Bible, for example, Shechem and Samson ask their fathers to get wives for them. Before official betrothal, the go-between takes place. The go-between can be a friend of father or son who will go to the brides house to make first request. The go-between is often the one who makes all the negotiations between two families. The author also explains the motif of the betrothal for Arabs. When a girl leaves the house, a father loses part of his labor and that is why the bridegroom has to pay a bride price. The price is usually in the form of money, but it can be paid in land, animal or labor. At the banquet the bridegroom is awaited by everybody. After the bridegroom voices his approval of the bride, the sheet with the blood stain on it is brought out and paraded throughout the town to her mother's house as proof of the brides virginity thus giving honor to the bride and her family

3 Works Cited Garza, Jennifer. Some historians say marriage traditions gave been fluid. Deseretnews.com, Deseretnews, 2 December 2008. Web. 8 September 2011. <http://deseretnews.com/article/705382779/Some-historians-say-marriage-traditions-havebeen-fluid.html>. Satterfield, Bruce. Arab Marriage Customs and Biblical Similarities. Web. 8 September 2011. Yee Lee, Wong. Chinese Marriage and Traditions. Chinatownconnection.com, Chinatownconnection, 2005. Web. 8 September 2011. <http://chinatownconnection.com/chinese_marriage.htm>.