The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Hobbit "social" mores, aye, we wonders...

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 12-20-2001, 08:20 PM

I imagine a Hobbitus Emeritus from Southfarthing would know. Thanks for joining me in this off-the-wall subject.

Actually I was referring to rural turn-of-the-century midwestern US customs in my last post (taken direct from an historical record which had surprising results, much like Draco's codifying existing laws surprised - and horrified - the ancient Greeks, from which came the term "Draconian Law"). 1900 rural midwest did vary from the east side of the pond they tended to marry early, not late, but like Hobbits tended towards large families. Bear in mind it was the Victorian era that came up with the phrase do what you like in your home, "but not in the street where you could scare the horses!" I'm not sure what's meant by keeping the population down. That's a rather modern concern. Hmmmm... need to think like Hobbits here. Given the slightly longer lifespan of Hobbits, marrying in the late tweens approximates marriage in the early twenties.

I imagine tracking down marriage customs would help in clarifying Hobbit attitudes in general. There is their dislike of anything uncanny or out-of-the-ordinary, and capacity to ignore anything "foreign." The Victorian era point is well-taken.

Likely marriage customs include:

-the Long Courtships you mentioned
-then a Handfasting (followed by a party!)
-then lengthly complex marriage contracts wrangled out by their elderly relatives with nothing better to do (especially in big families with inheritances and petty grudges to consider)
-then, when that's resolved, the Actual Wedding (followed by a party!)
-then moving in with one or the other parents until they can afford or build their own home
-then Moving In (followed by a really big party ! - one where practical gifts would be given the new couple. It's not sensible to give wedding gifts to the couple until they need them).

Technically it could be years - and a minimum of three parties - before they're finally married and moved into their own home.

This is fun.

[ December 20, 2001: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ]

12-20-2001, 08:20 PM	#9
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	I imagine a Hobbitus Emeritus from Southfarthing would know. Thanks for joining me in this off-the-wall subject. Actually I was referring to rural turn-of-the-century midwestern US customs in my last post (taken direct from an historical record which had surprising results, much like Draco's codifying existing laws surprised - and horrified - the ancient Greeks, from which came the term "Draconian Law"). 1900 rural midwest did vary from the east side of the pond they tended to marry early, not late, but like Hobbits tended towards large families. Bear in mind it was the Victorian era that came up with the phrase do what you like in your home, "but not in the street where you could scare the horses!" I'm not sure what's meant by keeping the population down. That's a rather modern concern. Hmmmm... need to think like Hobbits here. Given the slightly longer lifespan of Hobbits, marrying in the late tweens approximates marriage in the early twenties. I imagine tracking down marriage customs would help in clarifying Hobbit attitudes in general. There is their dislike of anything uncanny or out-of-the-ordinary, and capacity to ignore anything "foreign." The Victorian era point is well-taken. Likely marriage customs include: -the Long Courtships you mentioned -then a Handfasting (followed by a party!) -then lengthly complex marriage contracts wrangled out by their elderly relatives with nothing better to do (especially in big families with inheritances and petty grudges to consider) -then, when that's resolved, the Actual Wedding (followed by a party!) -then moving in with one or the other parents until they can afford or build their own home -then Moving In (followed by a really big party ! - one where practical gifts would be given the new couple. It's not sensible to give wedding gifts to the couple until they need them). Technically it could be years - and a minimum of three parties - before they're finally married and moved into their own home. This is fun. [ December 20, 2001: Message edited by: Marileangorifurnimaluim ] __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?