The Polynesian Wedding & Their Religious Ceremonies.

Before the arrival of Europeans, French Polynesia is an organized society with a prominent place on their own. Their lives are affected by the great religious ceremonies. Marriage is considered the starting point in adulthood is usually held in a complex, colorful and more powerful than that held by most middle class in the West. Unfortunately, this ceremony is not practiced again until recently lifted to restore some of the cultural customs of old.

The concept of marriage, love and death that separates us is not a priority. A 15-year-old boy who still did not understand about marriage, forced marriage because that is the age to be a real man. The phase change, life on the island of Polynesia has changed overnight. A child can feel free to play, visit one family to another, do not hold a discipline, spoiled, and wander freely in the woods, but soon turned into adults, their behavior is negative. He is responsible for the wife, family, clan and everything. Marriage is the only way to become a real man and get a higher social status. In fact, their presence has also given more serious attention to any decisions or events in the village.

The process of choosing life partner made ​​carefully. According to ethnology and historians, there is no written code about it, but the stories they hear are great. A strict regulations imposed on who to choose, one is chosen, the family, social status and so on. It's easy to say that incest is a taboo, but different definitions of incest in Polynesia. More comprehensive definition than the West because of marriage to a cousin and two cousin is prohibited. And men who choose women. The couple must be of the same social class. Men also need to select with the help of his parents. Sometimes parents make the decision on the grounds that his son is not mature.

If all the conditions is met, the groom would have to go through one more task. He must find a family prospective in-law to ask for permission to marry. Try to win the heart of in-law is important and they often bring some gifts in the visit. Fabric is the choice for gifts to a prospective mother-in-law.

After both parents agree and are happy with the decision, planning the event, including guest lists, floral arrangements and catering set in. Just as in the West, the more richer the person is, more grandeur the wedding. Lower class who are not able to provide the luxury, usually only make informal agreements indicate they were married. The groom's family would introduce themselves to the woman's family, and brought gifts. The next morning, the party began. After 24 hours of partying, neighbors and friends would be going home. The couple will then make the choice to live with which family.

For rich families, the ceremony was held on a large scale. On the afternoon before marriage, a festival held at the groom's house. Guests are allowed to see their parents gifts for the newlyweds. Of course, the pressures on families to provide a bride for a nice gift.

Then a priest or a respected Atioi come to marry the couple in a place of worship, which is named marae. Marae is a place where all Polynesian people hold a religious ceremony and the marriage and was the location for the human sacrifice was once. In the great ceremony, Atioi will present a large cloth on the ground near the marae. Couples will be seated on the cloth. Other family members sitting on the ground nearby. The groom's mother would scrape his forehead to bleed. Blood that will be applied to the newlyweds. Atioi will make an offer to the gods. Finish events, cloth is lifted and given to the bridegroom. This is a souvenir of the historic day. This ceremony will be followed by a huge party. There were times when the two party held that a party to the men and one for the women. The event continued dancing and singing, guests were dressed, complete with stunning headdress.

This ceremony will be followed by a huge party. There were times when the two party held together, that a party to the men and one for the women. The event continued with dancing and singing, guests were dressed, complete with stunning headdress. Meanwhile, the newlyweds have been blessed repeatedly. Because over time, the practice disappeared. The development of Christianity that came with the Western culture only requires each spouse to register with the authorities. Almost overnight, all the gifts of cloth, the requirement of blood on forehead and headgear of a wedding present with, disappeared from the local culture.

Recently found there is an effort to returns the old tradition. Not only among the Polynesians, the western world who want to enjoy the honeymoon atmosphere in the Southern Ocean also come here. Dustin Hoffman is one actor who came to the second marriage vows to deepen the relationship of husband and wife are popular among visitors. If you plan to have a romantic wedding in Tahiti, you will need to be citizens of France to the occasion received legal status in terms of the law.