There was a heated discussion recently about attending weddings and the appropriate gifts to be presented to the newlyweds.
Many questions were floating around and were argued but without reaching any consensus. For every point supporting attendance at weddings, there many against it. Are the attendees considered privileged to have been invited in the first place? Is it an honour to attend? Is the invitation a hindrance or a nuisance to one's smooth sailing of daily routines? Do relatives get offended if they were non-attendees to someone's most important day in their lives? It is the lovebirds' declaration, so they should be in gratitude.
There used to be a time when weddings were announced widespread as a form of approval and legitimisation. It also was a diversion from their otherwise mundane lives. Social interaction between relatives was far and between. Humans, being social animals, were leading an agrarian way of living that was so unfulfilling. Interacting with farm animals and breaking back serving Nature was not gratifying enough. Meeting people for potential matchmaking, merrymaking and unwinding became compulsory. With time, it also became ritual and life-changing. Somebody needed to be put on the dais to be held responsible for all the wild oats that he sowed. The groom also can lay claim or metaphorically brand his name on his 'property'.
Ok then. How much are you going to part with this indulgence? If your attendance alone does not suffice, how much of your hard-earned are you willing to part for the host to announce his own intentions? Enough to cover his wedding expenses or to get a head start in life? As the overindulgences in matrimonial lavishness hit insane levels, how much is enough?
Me, I sacrifice time and offer blessings. After that, you are on your own... Felicitations.
Many questions were floating around and were argued but without reaching any consensus. For every point supporting attendance at weddings, there many against it. Are the attendees considered privileged to have been invited in the first place? Is it an honour to attend? Is the invitation a hindrance or a nuisance to one's smooth sailing of daily routines? Do relatives get offended if they were non-attendees to someone's most important day in their lives? It is the lovebirds' declaration, so they should be in gratitude.
There used to be a time when weddings were announced widespread as a form of approval and legitimisation. It also was a diversion from their otherwise mundane lives. Social interaction between relatives was far and between. Humans, being social animals, were leading an agrarian way of living that was so unfulfilling. Interacting with farm animals and breaking back serving Nature was not gratifying enough. Meeting people for potential matchmaking, merrymaking and unwinding became compulsory. With time, it also became ritual and life-changing. Somebody needed to be put on the dais to be held responsible for all the wild oats that he sowed. The groom also can lay claim or metaphorically brand his name on his 'property'.
Ok then. How much are you going to part with this indulgence? If your attendance alone does not suffice, how much of your hard-earned are you willing to part for the host to announce his own intentions? Enough to cover his wedding expenses or to get a head start in life? As the overindulgences in matrimonial lavishness hit insane levels, how much is enough?
Me, I sacrifice time and offer blessings. After that, you are on your own... Felicitations.
Am sure the blessings are more important :)
ReplyDeleteThat is what I think. The intangible and unquantifiable gestures like blessings are priceless. Money can’t buy genuine blessings.
ReplyDelete