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| A group of youth Basque members in Brooklyn |
(Source: http://www.eitb.com/en/basques-in-boise/ )
Marriage
When it comes to the Basque, marriage is not pre-arranged and monogamy is widely used in each marriage. Based on whether the male or female will become the heir of the basseria, the parents will bestow farmland ownership to that heir as part of the marital agreement. In cases of small villages, some Basque couples have been known to practice endogamy, as well as, marrying cousins.
When it comes to the Basque, marriage is not pre-arranged and monogamy is widely used in each marriage. Based on whether the male or female will become the heir of the basseria, the parents will bestow farmland ownership to that heir as part of the marital agreement. In cases of small villages, some Basque couples have been known to practice endogamy, as well as, marrying cousins.
Family and Kinship
Once married, that new couple will move out of their parents house and live in their own. Only unmarried children are permitted to stay in their parents house for however long need be. However, whoever is the head of house, or heir, is who they have to submit to.Many of the basserias have elders living with them, and they tend to be unmarried or widowed. But everyone in the basseria pitches in to help maintain the land whether it be domestic or yard work, including the newly married couple.
As stated before, only one person is chosen to be the heir of the basseria,and that person is normally chosen by who is more fit to maintain the basseria. Based on their customs, it has been favored to be a man, however, if the man is seen as unfit, the women will have to take his place as heir. Unwed siblings are also bestowed gifts by the parents. They are given dowries, and if the parents are deceased all of the siblings are given equal proportions of the wealth left by the parents. In some traditions or customs, they may favor one child and that child may recieve 1/3 of the wealth.
Everyone in the basseria helps raise the children. Some may have a female servant that helps with the household chores, but will double as an au pair for the family. In many cases, while raising the children the parents will have already chosen the heir and the other siblings will have an idea of who that on is. The other siblings will also know that they have to leave, thus causing the Basque region to be rich in emigration.
Source:
Advameg, Inc. "Basques - Marriage and Family." Countries and Their Cultures. 2013. http://www.everyculture.com/Europe/Basques-Marriage-and-Family.html (accessed July 21, 2013).
Once married, that new couple will move out of their parents house and live in their own. Only unmarried children are permitted to stay in their parents house for however long need be. However, whoever is the head of house, or heir, is who they have to submit to.Many of the basserias have elders living with them, and they tend to be unmarried or widowed. But everyone in the basseria pitches in to help maintain the land whether it be domestic or yard work, including the newly married couple.
As stated before, only one person is chosen to be the heir of the basseria,and that person is normally chosen by who is more fit to maintain the basseria. Based on their customs, it has been favored to be a man, however, if the man is seen as unfit, the women will have to take his place as heir. Unwed siblings are also bestowed gifts by the parents. They are given dowries, and if the parents are deceased all of the siblings are given equal proportions of the wealth left by the parents. In some traditions or customs, they may favor one child and that child may recieve 1/3 of the wealth.
Everyone in the basseria helps raise the children. Some may have a female servant that helps with the household chores, but will double as an au pair for the family. In many cases, while raising the children the parents will have already chosen the heir and the other siblings will have an idea of who that on is. The other siblings will also know that they have to leave, thus causing the Basque region to be rich in emigration.
Source:
Advameg, Inc. "Basques - Marriage and Family." Countries and Their Cultures. 2013. http://www.everyculture.com/Europe/Basques-Marriage-and-Family.html (accessed July 21, 2013).
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ReplyDeleteBased on what I have read and researched, the Basques people are similar to many cultures that's surround their region. Being monogamous isn't unfamiliar, however my ethnocentrism kicked in when speaking of cousin marriage. When compared to the taboos and traditions in America, we tend to frown upon bloodlines marrying and have labeled it 'incestuous'. However, i have to be sensitive to the way that they live their lives and be culturally relative. I must remember to be objective and not subjective. Being open minded about things I do not understand can shed light on differences that may not be so different at all.
ReplyDeleteAlso, when it comes to how they pick the heirs of the basseria was also unfamiliar to me. I would not say that I had an ethnocentric view on it, I believe that I was more culturally accepting to it. Mainly because in my own culture we have our own variation of such ideology.