Who marries whom? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kalimac · 06-15-2002, 06:56 PM

Hello! First of all I just wanted to say thank you very, very much to everyone who replied on my "Hail and farewell" thread - I really appreciated all the good wishes (as did my new husband, when I showed it to him [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]). Just got back yesterday from Spain and everything from wedding onwards went gloriously, but it's nice to be back in familiar surroundings (and getting over jetlag, sort of). And very nice to be playing around on the Downs again [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img].

And now for my question, before the Barrow Wight starts frowning in my direction and shaking his head ominously. I'm not sure if this has been posted in its exact form before, if so, my apologies. I was curious, for obvious reasons, about how weddings were done in Middle Earth, specifically who has the power to marry people? There are two major weddings in ROTK; the wedding of Rose and Sam, and the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, but there's no description of the events themselves at all, let alone who officiated or even if there was an officiant. This is rather tied in with the "religion in ME" issue - there doesn't seem to have been any sort of organized religion or clergy who would fill this function. Possibly the hobbits did the equivalent of going to the Justice of the Peace (Mayor, some sort of officiant, though it's hard to see Will Whitfoot issuing licenses and cranking at people about getting blood tests done). That option doesn't work too well for Aragorn and Arwen though, unless Aragorn as ruler has the power to officiate himself, which would seem....odd.

One option I'd thought of was that maybe both weddings were done in the old Norse style (not totally unbelievable, considering Tolkien's interest in that general era). In those days, no officiant was considered necessary; witnesses were the important thing. If a couple stood in the church doorway and said vows to each other in the presence of witnesses, that was considered enough. I can see the hobbits doing this (if not in a church, in some special spot or other. It's easy to see Sam getting married under the new mallorn Party Tree, for example). As for Aragorn and Arwen...well, maybe Gandalf married them. Somehow it seems like Wizards would be able to do that sort of thing, though considering that there's only five of them (and only Gandalf and Radagast are both continuously accessible) it would hardly do if they were the ONLY ones who could...anyway.

Sorry about the longwindedness - just wondering if anyone else has ideas on this question? I've been considering it a lot (long flight back and all that) and nothing quite seemed right. Are there other options out there, or maybe Tolkien said something about it? Thanks!

Kalimac

06-15-2002, 06:56 PM	#1
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	Who marries whom? Hello! First of all I just wanted to say thank you very, very much to everyone who replied on my "Hail and farewell" thread - I really appreciated all the good wishes (as did my new husband, when I showed it to him [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]). Just got back yesterday from Spain and everything from wedding onwards went gloriously, but it's nice to be back in familiar surroundings (and getting over jetlag, sort of). And very nice to be playing around on the Downs again [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. And now for my question, before the Barrow Wight starts frowning in my direction and shaking his head ominously. I'm not sure if this has been posted in its exact form before, if so, my apologies. I was curious, for obvious reasons, about how weddings were done in Middle Earth, specifically who has the power to marry people? There are two major weddings in ROTK; the wedding of Rose and Sam, and the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen, but there's no description of the events themselves at all, let alone who officiated or even if there was an officiant. This is rather tied in with the "religion in ME" issue - there doesn't seem to have been any sort of organized religion or clergy who would fill this function. Possibly the hobbits did the equivalent of going to the Justice of the Peace (Mayor, some sort of officiant, though it's hard to see Will Whitfoot issuing licenses and cranking at people about getting blood tests done). That option doesn't work too well for Aragorn and Arwen though, unless Aragorn as ruler has the power to officiate himself, which would seem....odd. One option I'd thought of was that maybe both weddings were done in the old Norse style (not totally unbelievable, considering Tolkien's interest in that general era). In those days, no officiant was considered necessary; witnesses were the important thing. If a couple stood in the church doorway and said vows to each other in the presence of witnesses, that was considered enough. I can see the hobbits doing this (if not in a church, in some special spot or other. It's easy to see Sam getting married under the new mallorn Party Tree, for example). As for Aragorn and Arwen...well, maybe Gandalf married them. Somehow it seems like Wizards would be able to do that sort of thing, though considering that there's only five of them (and only Gandalf and Radagast are both continuously accessible) it would hardly do if they were the ONLY ones who could...anyway. Sorry about the longwindedness - just wondering if anyone else has ideas on this question? I've been considering it a lot (long flight back and all that) and nothing quite seemed right. Are there other options out there, or maybe Tolkien said something about it? Thanks! Kalimac __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.