Traditional Marriage still exists

In the traditional society of Armenia, marriage wasexample when the bride tried to choose a home or a
considered obligatory for all, except for people withnearby village. Interesting from this point of view of an
physical or mental disabilities. Many tried to marry offold Armenian proverb: "Better give her a local
their children as soon as possible but others decidedshepherd, than a stranger king. On the one hand, local
on voluntary celibacy that some girls considered aendogamy was due to a closed life historically arisen in
charity case and their decision was absolute respectconnection with the mass migrations of ethnographic
for the family and fellow villagers. In an introductorygroups of the Armenian ethnic group with their specific
marriage strictly on seniority: custom forbade theconsumer culture. Therefore, the old-timers and
younger to marry and to marry before the elderimmigrants, who lived mostly in different villages, tried to
brothers and sisters.avoid the family.
Severe impediment to marriage, as already noted, wasSome restrictions on marriage have survived to our
an artificial relationship. Thus, the adopted generationtime. This prohibition of marriage ties with relatives and
had no right to marry a girl of the same generationbetween foster brothers and sisters, to maintain the
because it is considered a close relative. Quitetraditional order of age brothers and sisters in marriage
common among Armenians was nepotism which was(although the latter is now often broken). In addition, the
mandatory regardless of whether it was a wedding orissue of marriage modern urban youth decides more
baptism. Marriage communication was strictly prohibitedindependently, usually by linking marriage with the need
not only with the family Godfather but also betweenof mutual love and common interests. Rural residents
the descendants of godmothers.often try to marry him immediately after his military
Marital range was limited and geographically, forservice, and his daughter not later than 20 years.