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I think it's useful to differentiate between empty formality and an effort to raise an occasion above the humdrum of normal existence with rituals and behaviors
by Veen 10y ago
I think it's useful to differentiate between empty formality and an effort to raise an occasion above the humdrum of normal existence with rituals and behaviors that connote its specialness.
The formality isn't empty in the sense that it's purposeless: it's done for a reason.
After all, marriage itself could be considered an empty formality, so if you're going to bother getting married you might as well embrace the formalized aspects of the occasion.
- hx87 10y agoMarriage (the legal bundle of rights and obligations) is certainly not an empty formality, although weddings might be.
- Veen 10y agoIt depends how you construe marriage. Traditionally, it was a vow between two people made at a public ceremony before members of their family and community. The contractual stuff came later, and is arguably the less important aspect. If you take the first view, then the formality of the ceremony and its associated traditions isn't empty — it's the whole point. If you think the contractual, legal aspects of marriage are the the only things that matter, then yeah, might as well just sign on the dotted line.