ciadoncha; ¡cuántos recuerdos - Webpages at SCU - Santa Clara ...

The youth from the 70s and 80s had more freedom to go out and meet more
people and the process of becoming engagement changed a lot. One participant told me
that during those years she really did not think about getting married. She said that the
youth back then saw marriage as a very serious thing. All of these youths studied outside
of Ciadoncha and were exposed to a greater cultural diversity. Many youths began to
travel and all that influenced its form to think.
The youths from the nineties practically have not lived in Ciadoncha. These are
the grandchildren of the natives of the town. They have been raised in the capitols and
have a totally different way of thinking when it comes to the engagement and marriage.
Something that seems interesting to me is that since I put some of the stories that I have
written about this town on the Internet, I have received several e-mails from the young
people which in some way identify with the town and enjoy reading something that
brings them closer to their elder’s town.
Before, if a couple wanted to formalize their relationship, then the man had to ask
for his girlfriend’s hand in marriage. To do this, the groom and his parents went to the
bride’s house and they had a formal meeting that consisted in going out for dinner or a
well prepared afternoon snack. The parents of the bride and groom talked and would
decide when the wedding would be. It was custom for the groom to pay for the bride’s
dress and the dormitory went to the father of the bride’s account. (Personal Interview,
2006).
Weddings were done during mass. In Ciadoncha, it was customary, like the rest
of Spain, to elect a godfather who would present the bride and a bridesmaid, who
accompanies the groom to the alter. In some weddings, little boys who carry the rings
enter the church first and then the bride with the godfather, who normally was the father
of the bride, while the mother and her son, who is the groom, wait in the alter.
After the mass, the bride and groom their godparents, and some witnesses move
to the sacristy to sign the marriage certificate. Once the act is finalized, they move on to
the meal, which is carried out in a restaurant.
Large weddings in the town were done before the automobile existed. It is said
that they were parties that lasted up to three days. This is because relatives came from far
places and they had to attend to them. There was a lot of food, music, dancing, and the
whole town appeared to be partying. They would get married in the town’s church and
the reception was done at home. In the majority of old wedding photos, before 1955, the
brides wore a dark dress.
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