Will
Right now the adventure I'm involved with is on a five year break (game time, not real time). I play a Minotaur and I'm marrying him off. My problem is that I can't find any information about minotaur rituals for marriage. Is there any reference material out there. I've already read the Taladas stuff and nothing there.
TRADITIONAL ANIMAL HUSBANDRY: Having fought off all rival bulls, the victorious bull usually mounts the Cow in front of all the other cows in his herd Thus ensuring perpetuation of the speices.
How that works at a marriage ceremony between 'minotaurs'...I can't say.;)
First, all the minotaurs gather in a sacred grove or other place of worship. All of the guests form a circle, with the bride's family and invitees on one side of the circle and the groom's family and invitees on the other.
A minotaur priest goes to the center of the circle and sprinkles around some holy water and petals from freshly picked flowers: these are signs for purity and fertility. Then the groom and the either the bride's father, brother, or other chosen male (a "best man" as it were), charge at eachother and lock horns in the center of the circle. Depending on how conservative your minotaur's community is, the groom may be forbidden to marry if he cannot either throw the bride's champion down or push him to the edge of the circle. Less conservative communities just have the champion back down or throw the fight after a minute or two.
If all goes well, the bride's champion will exit the circle, and the bride will join the groom in the center of the circle. They face eachother, clasp hands, and recite a traditional minotaur wedding vow in which they promise to stand together in sickness in health, protect their calves with their lives, and respect eachother always. Then the priest joins them, sprinkles them both with holy water, and ties the groom's right hand to the bride's left with a garland of holly (or a similar plant if holly doesn't grow locally). Once the knot is tied, the circles breaks up into a celebration with dancing, food, and drink. Traditionally, the bride and groom stay tied together until their wedding night is over.
Hmmm... According to the voices in my head, a minotaur wedding goes like this:
First, all the minotaurs gather in a sacred grove or other place of worship. All of the guests form a circle, with the bride's family and invitees on one side of the circle and the groom's family and invitees on the other.
A minotaur priest goes to the center of the circle and sprinkles around some holy water and petals from freshly picked flowers: these are signs for purity and fertility. Then the groom and the either the bride's father, brother, or other chosen male (a "best man" as it were), charge at eachother and lock horns in the center of the circle. Depending on how conservative your minotaur's community is, the groom may be forbidden to marry if he cannot either throw the bride's champion down or push him to the edge of the circle. Less conservative communities just have the champion back down or throw the fight after a minute or two.
If all goes well, the bride's champion will exit the circle, and the bride will join the groom in the center of the circle. They face eachother, clasp hands, and recite a traditional minotaur wedding vow in which they promise to stand together in sickness in health, protect their calves with their lives, and respect eachother always. Then the priest joins them, sprinkles them both with holy water, and ties the groom's right hand to the bride's left with a garland of holly (or a similar plant if holly doesn't grow locally). Once the knot is tied, the circles breaks up into a celebration with dancing, food, and drink. Traditionally, the bride and groom stay tied together until their wedding night is over.
I like that. It's cute. I may use this... :P
I don't know of anything canon, but if I had to come up with a wedding ritual, I'd totally just steal it from the Klingons.
Exactly, I was thinking the same thing. I didn't like the whole Greek/Roman thing portrayed in 2nd edition. Though there were some things I did dig.
Will
Hmmm... According to the voices in my head, a minotaur wedding goes like this:
First, all the minotaurs gather in a sacred grove or other place of worship. All of the guests form a circle, with the bride's family and invitees on one side of the circle and the groom's family and invitees on the other.
A minotaur priest goes to the center of the circle and sprinkles around some holy water and petals from freshly picked flowers: these are signs for purity and fertility. Then the groom and the either the bride's father, brother, or other chosen male (a "best man" as it were), charge at eachother and lock horns in the center of the circle. Depending on how conservative your minotaur's community is, the groom may be forbidden to marry if he cannot either throw the bride's champion down or push him to the edge of the circle. Less conservative communities just have the champion back down or throw the fight after a minute or two.
If all goes well, the bride's champion will exit the circle, and the bride will join the groom in the center of the circle. They face eachother, clasp hands, and recite a traditional minotaur wedding vow in which they promise to stand together in sickness in health, protect their calves with their lives, and respect eachother always. Then the priest joins them, sprinkles them both with holy water, and ties the groom's right hand to the bride's left with a garland of holly (or a similar plant if holly doesn't grow locally). Once the knot is tied, the circles breaks up into a celebration with dancing, food, and drink. Traditionally, the bride and groom stay tied together until their wedding night is over.
I kinda like that. But in my minds eye I saw "As the sun sets two large bound fires are lit behind the minotaur priest, the bride and groom." The field would be set up almost like a battlefield. They'd be dressed in ceremonial leather armor and carrying ceremonial weapons. Then instead of the traditional wedding band (ring) it would go over the horn. Though I do like the idea of the mock fight. Then of course it would be three days of eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow they may be dead.
Will
The way I would do it, would be to focus on a more tribal feeling, kind of like anything above. In a grove, lots of witnesses, maybe flowers all about.
One thing is for sure though; whatever you do make up will be a load of bull...
Basically, the two families would array themselves on either side of a path. The female would stand at the head of the path, and at the foot the male would stand. The female would wear the mantle of an ancient Minotaur creation god, disdaining her 'creation', and would speak, in ancient tongue "What can this creation do?"
The two families then, would close the path.
The male steps forward and makes to cross, speaking thus "I can step forward in hardship"
Ritually, he defeats oldest of both families, who would be wearing battlescars and old leathers and the like.
The female would then speak thus: "Hardship is everpresent, but what can you do for me?"
And the male would stand, assaulted by the adults of both families, not attacking, but defending.
"I can defend our home from invasion," he says, until the last of the adults have charged at him and failed to sway him.
"A worthy goal, for without protection, we could not live. But what can you do for me?" the female iterates.
The male draws his weapon- usually an axe or sword, and plants it in the earth.
"I can destroy," he says. Then, speaking an ancient prayer. "But so too can I create"
and blowers grow, blooming from the point of impact.
"This man seeks my hand, he who has proven himself on the tasks. His power is unmatched, but I ask once again. What can he do for me?" the female says.
The male responds thusly "I can defeat you... but choose not to," he says. And then he takes her up in his arms, and she declares that she accepts him.
Historically, the idea would be that the first Minotaur fought for the hand of a goddess- and won. He beat every challenge, and stood against every hazard. Moreover, though he could have been consumed by his power and gone on to possess anything he desired, he instead chose to wed the goddess, giving that power up. A Minotaur wedding reflects this journey and sacrifice. It tests love- both their love, for the male to fight his way against all odds, and for the female to be unable to help- forced to watch.
Seriously though, I think a ritual that emphasizes the importance of the tribe, personal strength, and one other thing (like loyalty or tradition) would be appropriate for minotaurs. I also like the thought of minotaurs singing for some reason.
Seriously though. I saw someone come up a marriage ritual for minotaurs once and it was something like this.
1.) The groom had to ask permission from the bride's father to marry her.
2.) Then, he had to perform a task to prove his worth, it usually involved defeating one of the bride's reletives in ritual combat and being sent to secure a suitable wedding gift, usually the head of a dangerous animal or monster or a rare object.
3.) The wedding itself was brief and consisted of the recitation of the family lineage through the female's side of the family and an exchange of vows. The groom gave his bride his gift.
4.) The honeymoon was "man vs. wild" and if the couple came back alive they were considered blessed and would have a long and happy life together.
hope this helps...
But most cerimonies and rituals are based on the precepts of publicly declaring the couple as being married and showing that they are legally allowed to. The parents showing their concent (father giving away the bride, gifts being given as payment, etc)
A wedding could be as simple as a wedding procession, where the couple and a wedding party, consisting of relatives of both families (to demonstrate their approval) and a legal or religious authority (such as a priest) ussually the couple would be wearing attire that is customary of newly weds and some fanfare would take place (such as the playing of musical instruments and singing) as they walk through the town and public square. This would serve to make a public declaration that the two are now married.
That seems to match a Minataur's approach, to simply walk out into the middle of the town with her, declare that she is yours and that you expect everyone to show her the same respect that they would you.
Similairly a wedding feast is the same approach. No real cerimony is needed, butu the couple sits together at the head place. It's announced that they are now married. By simply showing up and partaking of the feast the families of both sides demonstrate thier approval
and what deity your bride is,
This is certainly an important consideration! :D
On the other hand, hoof, whatever, maybe Junior sends the old man flying. No hard feelings, Baby Girl has culled out a good one from the herd. If daddy is set against it, he may come back up for more. Time to see how much Junior has in him. At some point, family consensus will most likely agree that the old man is just being stubborn, and it would be impolite (and a social embarassment) for the old man to continue.