10-21-10, 09:58 AM
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#27
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Stowaway
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Most wedding officiators, at the request of engaged couples, cut this phrase out of the wedding ceremony, while it still remains a "catch-your-breath moment" on television.
We can only speculate as to the origin of the statement. Centuries ago, arranged marriages were common, and the bride's father had to provide a dowry. If the father had not fulfilled his part of the bargain, that proclamation was an opportune moment for the groom's family to speak up before it was too late. The statement may also be a reference to a bride's virginity, dating to a time when virginity was a prerequisite for marriage.
In the Jewish faith, couples sign a ketubah, or marriage contract, in which they pledge to love and support one another. Originally, the ketubah was a contract between the father and the groom, specifying the terms of the dowry and implying that the parties were free and clear to be married. The ketubah negates the need for a "Speak now . . ." statement and has never been a part of a Jewish wedding ceremony.
To inform the congregation, the Catholic Church publishes the banns or proclamation of marriage (usually in the church newsletter) for three successive weeks prior to a wedding. The proclamation asks if anyone knows of a reason why the couple should not wed, but "Speak now . . . " does not appear as a part of the Catholic wedding ceremony. Many of today's couples choose their church based on the location of their reception. They have little connection with the church's congregation or the area, making "Speak now . . . " a meaningless declaration.
Today there are legal practices to ensure that the couple is free to be married (e.g., a marriage license). This statement may once have been used as a precursor to such legal procedures.
Modernity has made "Speak now, or forever hold your peace," extraneous in today's wedding ceremonies, but it quite probably will continue in the movies and on T.V. It's dramatic effect, as someone from the audience leaps forward to object, is a tough scene to replace!
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All that being said, this could be another spark point for the Code Pink crowd at gay marriages.
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