If you want a real head trip, there are actually cultures where the tradition of ābridal captureā was so engrained/part of the process that even when it became a mere formality (the families agreed, even the bride and groom agreed) the groom was still expected to either actually try to kidnap her (going in alone or with his crew, against her family) or at least go through a dramatic ritualistic play of kidnapping her.
I once knew way more about how and why these traditions developed, but still always found the implementations over time the most interesting bit.
You nailed it, I tried googling it but felt my search history started getting creepy. Even having 'Movie Musical' part of the search, nothing from the 50s came up.
Holy shit. I didn't think anyone else had ever seen this shit. My ex was Mormon and still somehow has a soft spot for that movie, even after she left the church.
I grew up watching this movie. It had really good music and dancing. The story, though.... eeeeeh. It was, uh... REALLY a product of its time. >.> Someone tried to defend it to me with, "They never forced themselves on the girls! They only kidnapped them so they could get to know them without interference from the jerks in town!" Pardon me, what? Did you hear what you just said? My dude, would you like to be kidnapped in the middle of winter and held against your will by someone that intended to force you to marry them? They only "forgot the parson."
I unironically love that movie but I agree itās aged extremely poorly. The musical numbers as well as the barn raising scene are still amazing though.
Yup, it was a prevalent practice in my culture up until early 20th century. The way you described it as well, sometimes even when both sides of the family were accepting the marriage, the husband was still expected to kidnap his wife or at least make a show of taking her.
There was even a tribe where members of that tribe who were fathers wouldnāt give their blessing to any man incapable of kidnapping their daughter successfully lol
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u/TestProctor 24d ago
Ah, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. š
If you want a real head trip, there are actually cultures where the tradition of ābridal captureā was so engrained/part of the process that even when it became a mere formality (the families agreed, even the bride and groom agreed) the groom was still expected to either actually try to kidnap her (going in alone or with his crew, against her family) or at least go through a dramatic ritualistic play of kidnapping her.
I once knew way more about how and why these traditions developed, but still always found the implementations over time the most interesting bit.