VERSION|0.5.1|NAME|Norman|DATE|1380527794|CONTENT|Edwin I believe he is correct that for common people it was usual for the man to confer a small gift to the woman to seal the marriage. The idea that marriage should be more formal arose because of the burden on church courts with women declaring that their &quot;husbands&quot; had done a runner after a night of passion and the men saying that they had not meant to communicate commitment. [url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/6243761/A-history-of-the-English-marriage.html]The &quot;tradition&quot; of marriage as we know it is pretty recent.[/url]

Interestingly he did not invoke books of magic stuff or imaginary friends this morning. Just a suggestion of more interfaith buffets.|EMAIL|nrhansen@blueyonder.co.uk|IP-ADDRESS|217.206.16.3|MODERATIONFLAG|