Re: Wedding Ceremony Symbolism

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For a do-it-yourself analysis, I recommend Van Gennep, The Rites of Passage, a
classic theoretical work on the meaning of such ceremonies (old, but still in
print). Many specific examples from weddings and other rituals are interpreted.
Moreover, his theoretical framework makes transparent many other symbols.

Beware of some pretty shaky ideas inherited from the last century about marriage
by capture, etc. This is metaphore taken too literally.

JOHN H. LANGDON email LANGDON@GANDLF.UINDY.EDU
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY FAX (317) 788-3569
UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS PHONE (317) 788-3447
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46227

• Next message: Harriet Whitehead: "Re: MISC> Essays on the Anthropology of Cyberspace: Introductio"
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• Maybe in reply to: Sherwin P. Hicks: "Wedding Ceremony Symbolism"