ANNUAL MAGAZINE - Dominican Convent School

high tea
Valentine and Civvies Day
With the whole fairytale concept of
happily ever after, marriage has shifted
from the traditional way of having
partners being chosen for you to the
21st century way of finding your “true love”. So in a
century of Cinderella tales and romantic gestures, the
question is: would people marry without love?
“High Tea was not to be missed by anyone.
The performances were on point, the games
entertained us, and the music kept us
dancing through the event."
In the past, the first marriage ever recorded was that of Adam and
Eve. Marriage at the time was classified as holy and sanctified.
This was the first sense of what people would call today an
arranged marriage. The Holy Scripture says that God saw Adam
was lonely and needed a companion and thus made Eve his wife.
There was no dating or getting to know each other, no going
out or spending time together, “Will you marry me?” or “Let’s
take it to the next level”. Adam was given Eve and willingly
accepted her.
DC S FAMILY
DEBorah NZolantima, Gr 12K
BY A. LIMA | MATRIC DANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Guests of this year's High Tea did not just feast on sweet cakes.
Their ears feasted on music, and their eyes feasted on dance
and traditional fashion. The morning's programme showcased
Dominican's contribution to the arts, including ballet, modern
dance, a string ensemble, a traditional choir and the
Marimba Band.
Visitors also had the opportunity to hear past pupils
Leatile Gaelae, Erica da Silva, and Lilly Million share their
current studio work.
While performers took the stage, over 200 people hosted at 20
tables enjoyed a wide variety of foods ranging from crisps to
croissants. Many tables had themes, and guests dressed to match
their table's custom décor. Thinking back to the event, Matric
Dance Committee member Bonolo Tlhotlhalemaje (Gr 11N)
reflected: “It was amazing to see all of the tables set up differently,
showcasing various cultures.”
Students modelled the latest haute couture, ranging from
student-designed dresses sewn from recycled materials to
traditional attire by Ben. Guests had the opportunity to vie for
prizes, if they were willing to compete in deceptively difficult
one-minute games that used ordinary household items. It seemed
the revelry would never cease.
So then why not marry without love? Science has proven that
most arranged marriages are not likely to end in a divorce. In
fact, most of these marriages last longer than those of couples
who chose their own partners
We were greeted on
Valentine’s Day with
brightly-coloured clothing
and bright faces beaming
with excitement. Soon every
child’s face was painted.
Hearts, flowers and cars
were the theme. After break
it was time for the lucky
draw. Ms Matjila drew a
name from the 70 tickets.
Lesego Nxumalo
(G000) won!
in marriage. Most people
have the freedom to choose
their own partner and divorce
rates, instead of dropping,
are increasing at a rapid pace.
Arranged marriages are how
most of the past marriages had
been set up, and it was not likely
people heard of any of these
ending up in a divorce. They
had learned that they should
learn to love. The views and
what people are exposed to
today has shifted the mindset,
telling them that they need to
seek and find love which is the
total opposite of what marriage
was believed to be in the past.
Mutual feelings are likely to
pass away and people fall out
of love every day, but learning
is an endless journey. One can
never say, I have obtained all
the knowledge. People never
stop learning and many of the
marriages stayed strong, not because they loved their partners,
but they learned to love them.
So what if one is not Christian or even if they are, should they
marry without love? With human rights, we are now allowed
to choose the one with whom we want to spend the rest of our
lives. How would we choose? We would
choose the one we love the most. It is
the simplest and most satisfying option
for us today. With the growing rate of
physical, emotional and mental abuse
amongst married individuals, it is harder
for parents to arrange marriages for their
children, as no one knows who to trust
any more. What was once a sanctified
bond between two has turned into a
nightmare for others. So it’s best to
choose out of love, a best friend that you
trust. The belief that God gave Adam Eve
and he learned to love her, has changed
today’s interpretation that God made Eve
especially for Adam; someone uniquely
made to fit him. Thus, there is a someone
for everyone out there. So everyone seeks
love, whether they believe in God or not.
Even at an early age the stories read
guarantee a true love out there. The
young minds go around seeking for their
fairytale ending. But who wouldn’t love
the warm feeling of being held
at night by loving arms or experiencing
the joy in the words “I love you”.
So even if many of the traditional marriages of old times started
off as loveless relationships that blossomed into great marriages,
even if they last somewhat longer, it is unlikely that anyone
in this generation would marry without love. We have been
brainwashed into thinking that marriage cannot be happy
without love, and so we would rather grow in love than learn to
love. So not many would in fact marry without love, because love
is what makes this world go round.
DC S FAMILY
MPho RADEBE,
Gr 12v
90 Dominican CONVENT SCHOOL 2012
91