Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 10 - Marriage

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	m̃	m			t	d	þ	ð	ɫ	l			ṡ	ż	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ƣ	h	ȝ			š	s̨			i	e	a	õ	o	u			ĭ	ĕ	ŭ
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̥/	/m/			/t/	/d/	/θ/	/ð/	/l̥/	/l/			/ʦ/	/ʣ/	/s/	/z/	/ɾ̥/	/n/			/k/	/g/	/ç/	/ʝ/	/j̊/	/j/			/sʷ/	/sʲ/			/i/	/e/	/ä/	/ɒ/	/o/	/u/			/ɪ/	/ĕ/	/ʊ/

General

• Among the Six Peoples, only the Pyrans, the Hydorans, the Humans, and the Lithans practice marriage. These are the four procreating Peoples (żoonle̋uðu).
• Marriage (m̃e̋ðra) is the union, legal, social and spiritual, between one man and one woman from one of the procreating Peoples.
• All marriages are exogamous (outside the local community) (bam̃e̋di) and monogamous (þunm̃e̋di).
• In all cases, marriages are arranged by the parents of the prospective brides (ii-ukűru) and grooms (ur-ukűru) often with the help of a matchmaker (ma̋ngu).
• The guest fiancé(e) (šéþm̃eðlűƣaþu) spends the summer before the wedding (m̃e̋do) at the settlement of the host fiancé(e) (m̃eðlűƣaþu) to ascertain compatibility between the two and with the community at large. He/she travels with his/her parents and several guards (m̃eðdı̋slu). The women travel in a wagon and the men ride their People’s steeds. He or she lives with the community leader and joins in the work of the community. At the end of the summer he/she returns to his/her own community.
• The following year the guest fiancé(e) returns to the community and, at the summer solstice (leeþsűka), a contract (m̃edı̋ı̋ȝa) is entered into. There may be more than one marriage at this time. A bride price (m̃eðk̬őino) is paid to the guest fiancé(e)'s family for the loss of the guest fiancé(e)'s labor.
• The m̃eðk̬őino is usually a male or female from the host fiancé(e)’s herd or flock. In this way new blood is added to the flock or herd of the guest fiancé(e)’s parents.
• The marriage ceremony (m̃eðtők̬o) takes place in the community house (koinde̋mo). The ceremony has both religious and civil components. It is presided over by the head of the community (nee̋ilu). In the presence of the whole community the couple exchange vows and rings, prayers are said, and songs are sung. The ceremony concludes with the signing of the contract. It is signed by the community scribe (koinȝa̋rlu) and any others present who can write. Many people learn how to sign their names just for weddings.
• After the marriage ceremony there is a feast (m̃eðsa̋ro). The main course is the meat brought by the guest family. This course consists of a whole roasted reindeer, horse, or yak or, at a Hydoran wedding, grilled fish. The heart is served to the newlyweds, sliced and grilled.
• Wedding gifts consist of household items. Among the Pyrans and Lithans, the groom must build a house before the bride arrives. Among the Hydorans, it is the bride who must provide a house for herself and her children. Help in building the house is one of the gifts of the community to the newlyweds.

Specific

• Marriage for the Pyrans, although a matriarchal society, is patrilocal. The bride goes to the groom's da̋bo. Once at her new home, the bride becomes a daughter of the matriarch with all the rights and privileges which that entails. The m̃eðk̬őino consists of a reindeer bull and cow which are added to the herd of the bride's family.
• For the Hydorans, marriage is matrilocal. The groom goes to the bride's na̋a̋do and takes up residence in the men’s communal house (koinde̋mo). The m̃eðk̬őino is an agreed-upon quantity of dried fish paid to the groom's family.
• Marriage for the Humans, although a matriarchal society, is patrilocal. The bride goes to the groom's ṡe̋imo. Once at her new home, the bride becomes a daughter of the matriarch with all the rights and privileges which that entails. The m̃eðk̬őino consists of a stallion and a mare which are added to the herd of the bride's family.
• For the Lithans, marriage is patrilocal. The bride goes to the groom's kı̋lo. Once at her new home, the bride becomes a daughter of the matriarch with all the rights and privileges which that entails. The m̃eðk̬őino consists of a yak bull and cow which are added to the herd of the bride's family.
• In the case of the Pyrans, Humans and Lithans, the bride brings with her a dowry (ii-úkurűðo) which consists of household items given to her and a young dog to introduce new blood into the host family’s pack.
• Should a young man or woman decide to enter a caravansary (saþda̋ro), his or her labor is lost to the community. In partial compensation, the caravansary offers toll-free passage across the river for the lifetime of the member.

Divorce - þorm̃ı̋ı̋a

• Divorce does not exist in Sefdaania, but there can be separation from bed, but not board, for certain offenses such as adultery or abuse. This is mediated by the various local councils.
• Any children of the marriage continue to live with the aggrieved spouse (dégaþm̃e̋daþu) until they reach their majority. The guilty spouse (osm̃e̋daþu) has to make his or her own arrangements.
• Should the aggrieved parent die, members of the extended family help to raise the children.
• The guilty spouse may not remarry, but the aggrieved spouse may. Should she remarry, the guilty spouse remains responsible for the care and feeding of his children, but not for his re-married ex-spouse.
• Legally and socially the aggrieved spouse is considered to be widowed. An aggrieved wife may become the co-wife (ga̋mu) of another male, should the male's wife agree to the arrangement.

Adultery - mı̋ndĕra

Laws regarding forbidden sexual relations

• 1. If a male shall lie with a virgin, he shall pay the father or the caravansary a solatium (deƣdőþo) of a newborn from his flock or herd.
  • 2. If a child is conceived, he shall pay the father or the caravansary a double solatium.
• 3. If a male shall lie with an unmarried female, he shall pay the father or the caravansary a solatium of a newborn from his flock or herd.
  • 4. If a child is conceived, he shall pay the father or the caravansary a double solatium.
• 5. If a male shall lie with a married female, he shall pay the aggrieved husband a solatium.
  • 6.If a child is conceived, he shall pay the husband a double solatium and shall forfeit all rights over the child.
• 7.If a male shall lie with a widow, he shall pay her a solatium.
• 8. If a male shall lie with
  • i. his mother or mother-in-law,
  • ii. his sister or his sister-in-law,
  • iii. his daughter or daughter-in-law,
  • v. his mother’s or father’s sister or sister-in-law,
  • v. his mother’s or father’s sister’s or sister-in-law’s daughter or daughter-in-law,
  • vi. his mother’s or father’s brother’s or brother-in-law’s daughter or daughter-in-law,
  • vii. his granddaughter,
  • viii. his mother’s or father’s sister’s or sister-in-law’s daughter’s or daughter-in-law’s daughter,
  • ix. his mother’s or father’s brother’s or brother-in-law’s daughter’s or daughter-in-law’s daughter,
  • x. his mother’s or father’s sister’s or sister-in-law’s son’s or son-in-law’s daughter,
  • xi. his mother’s or father’s brother’s or brother-in-law’s son’s or som-in-law’s daughter,
  • xii. any female ancestor or descendant in a direct line, he shall pay the aggrieved male, a solatium according to nos. 1, 2, 3, or 4.
• 9. If a child is conceived, he shall pay the aggrieved male a double solatium and shall forfeit all rights over the child.
• 10. If there is a second offense, the male shall be tattooed on his forehead and exiled with his steed.
• 11. If a male shall forcibly lie with a male, he shall be tattooed, have his penis amputated, and be exiled with his steed.
• 12. If two males shall consensually lie with each other, they shall be tattooed, have their penises amputated, and be exiled with their steeds.

Notes

• 1. Sefdaanian custom distinguishes between paternity and fatherhood. Paternity is based on the contribution of sperm. Fatherhood is based on who raises the child. There are no illegitimate children.
• 2. The male in the case of #10, #11and #12 has three options:
  • a. to live a solitary life,
  • b. to join the company of the evil Ṡel̨u, or
  • c. to enter a caravansary.

V. Widowhood - mőőta

• 1. If a woman is widowed, she has five options:
  • a. She may remain single, relying on her children to help manage the family's herds.
  • b. She may remarry either a single man or a widower in her community.
  • c. She may move to another community and marry an unmarried man there.
  • d. She may became a co-wife to a man in her community.
  • e. If she is not responsible for children, she may enter a caravansary.
• 2. If the widow remarries, the family's herds remain the property of the deceased man's sons.
• 3. If a man is widowed, he has four options:
  • a. He may remain single, relying on his children to help manage the household tasks.
  • b. He may remarry either a single woman or a widow in his communnity.
  • c. He may move to another community and marry an unmarried woman there.
  • d. If he is not responsible for children, he may enter a caravansary.