House van Leuven: On Love and Union

[Dramatude 861]

The Courtship and Marriage Traditions of House van Leuven

Scelera non nostrorum.

 

Issued by 

Firress Adelina Claire van Leuven 

on the 14th of MSITZA AG DARGUND, 533 E.S.

 

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The House van Leuven has been synonymous with the values of faith, wisdom, strength, and loyalty - each of these qualities serving as a guide for their traditions and everyday living. At the heart of their culture lies a deep reverence for the rituals that bind them together and continue the flow of tradition. Showcasing this reverence, are the intricacies of their courtship and marriage customs.

 

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Courtship

The courtship process of the van Leuven family is a cherished and intricate tradition, rooted in the principles of chivalry, respect, and cultural heritage. Guided by the values of Savoyardic and Raevir cultures, as well as religious traditions, it is expected that the man will take the initiative in pursuing his desired van Leuven woman, with the ultimate goal of a lifelong partnership.

 

The courtship process consists of three distinct phases:

 

The first of three phases to court a van Leuven woman is marked by the Trial of Taste, by which the suitor must procure and offer a quality bottle of wine to the family of the desired lady. This ritual is a test of the suitor’s character, as well as his ability to appreciate the refined tastes of the family. If the family’s preferences of the taste approve of the wine, the courting couple may proceed with their relationship. If approval is not given, the suitor may be politely rejected or encouraged to return with a more refined and sophisticated offering.

An accepted wine takes the suitor into the next phase of the courtship - Trial of Heritage. This is marked by a variety of gestures and rituals designed to express the importance of family heritage and culture. The suitor is tasked with the picking of flowers, which holds significant symbolic meaning within Savoyard culture. The selection and presentation of flowers is a delicate art, as it requires an understanding of the subtleties of meaning and gesture that are woven into every petal and stem. The flowers are often presented to the family or family home, serving as a tangible representation of the courter's devotion and commitment. Further, the flowers may be woven into the Verevka belt, giving significance to the van Leuven family’s ties to Savoyardic and Haeseni heritage.

In this final stretch of the courtship process, the couple is expected to embark on an outing together - the Trial of Bonding - designed to test their ability to work together and navigate challenges as a unit. This may take the form of a hunting excursion, where they must rely on one another's strengths and weaknesses to overcome obstacles. This trial by fire serves as a crucible, refining their bond and revealing their true characters in the process. If they are unable to handle the weight of their outing together, it is seen as a sign that they are unfit for marriage and may not be destined for a lifelong partnership.

 

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On Marriage

 

Marriage of those in House van Leuven is an occasion that is looked at with a high distinction. After a successful courtship, the family of the van Leuven bride assists in the planning and execution of a well-planned wedding. 

With their Raevir heritage and residence within the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska, the family fully participates in the tradition in following the Jorenic Rites for their wedding. However, the cloak worn by the groom is a unique aspect within the van Leuven marriage tradition. The cloak is to be designed by the family to incorporate the symbol of the house the groom is to marry into to symbolize his integration into the family and the role he takes on. For example, men marrying into the van Leuven family could don a cloak designed with the sun and stag emblem of the van Leuven family.

Following the traditional wedding ceremony, the families of the bride and groom and invited guests are to hold a feast as a time of joy and celebration for the matrimony, and to welcome the newly weds into their new family. A unique and meaningful aspect of the House van Leuven's marriage traditions is the grape stomp. During this ceremony, the bride wears her wedding dress while stomping on grapes in a barrel, symbolizing her transformation into a wedded woman and her inability to return to her prior girlhood. This act is also a token of appreciation and good-will towards the groom's family, as the wine produced from these grapes will be used as a gift to them.

The grape stomp is a cherished tradition within the House van Leuven, and is seen as a way to bring good fortune and happiness to the newlywed couple. It is also a reminder of the family's rich heritage and its connection to the land and its traditions. As such, it is an important part of the marriage traditions of the House van Leuven, and will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.

 

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Signed,

Firress, Adelina Claire van Leuven

Matriarch van Leuven

Firress, Mahaut Marie van Leuven

 

 

Spoiler

Another van Leuven culture post!! Thank you to @clonky for the information taken from the Savoyard Culture post, @Xarkly for the Jorenic Rite of Matrimony post,  and all writers for Haeseni court etiquette and Juliyafest posts.

 

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