Marriage Traditions

There were certain alliances which were formed by families in Bessarabia. During my family tree research, I noted a lot of connections which were strong generations previous among certain families. Certain families
seemed to marry into certain families. We had some situations where an arranged marriage superseded marriage to someone whom the young person had
chosen because the parents were not in favour. I have some theories on why that took place, but have no basis for any factual evidence on these points. Sometimes the statement was made "this person was "zu dunkel""
for the other". I wonder if the term zu dunkel - too dark - referred to complexion alone or possibly to the class of family involved. A reason for a cementing of marriages was to keep the family together.

Among Volga German families arranged marriages were even common in Soviet times and, play a role even today in some situations in Germany. Some Volga German families insisted that their children marry someone with an origin from the same village (this according to a conversation I had with Bishop Siegfried Springer some years ago).

I do not know much about the kuppelsmann - matchmaker. I do know though that the future spouse was, at times, introduced to an uncle for his opinion as to the future of such a union. The thought was that the
parents were too close to their child in order to make a proper evaluation and give their assent to the proposed match. An uncle would be more objective.

At any rate, the divorce rate was not as great back then!

The families were large and there were more baptisms than funerals.

Pastor Horst Gutsche