Dating, Marriage and Family During The Renaissance

          During the renaissance, there were many ways people socialized on a dating marital and family level. Dating customs were different between those of royal family and commoners.  From age to laws, marriage was very complicated at that time. Life in a family of the renaissance depending on position in society or age had many different rules.  In the renaissance dating, marriage and family life was very different from today, especially dating to some extent.

          The way kids dated was different then it is currently. A parent marrying their kids off was frowned upon eventually during the renaissance, yet parents were still allowed to arrange potential dates for their child to go out with. Usually, due to small town populations, the children would have to go visit another town to seek their match. Common places for teens to “hook-up” were: “fairs, churches, pubs and town squares” (www.filebox.vt.edu/user/klay/page2e.html). Usually gifts were exchanged between couples; commonly the male would bare the gifts, from gloves to rings. As a couple they were allowed to be together whenever and wherever they wanted, “they could court or go on dates” (filebox.vt.edu/user/klay/page2e.html), they could meet at a house or at church. But “courtship did not imply marriage” (www.filebox.vt.edu/user/klay/page2e.html).  Although the customs of courtship did not mean marriage, some relationships resulted in a life together.

          The marriage customs in the renaissance were very strict and complicated. The legal age for boys to marry was 14 and for girls 12 “though a girl could agree to marry at age 7” (www.elizabethan.org/compendium/9.html). The marriage is a contract that starts with a betrothal, where the male gives the ring and the girl wears it on her right hand until the wedding ceremony, where it is switched to her other hand. The father of the bride pays for the wedding and the food is occasionally supplied by neighbors and friends. While being married and having kids and family, there were many different experiences a child or parent would have.

Family life during the renaissance was different for the whole family. As a young boy of age 7, still had to wear a skirt until he was assigned his first “hose”. This ceremony was called breeching. As a baby “they were wrapped in ‘swaddling bands’ because it was considered unhealthy for their limbs to be free” (www.elizabethan.org/compendium/40.html). As a wife, she would take the husbands last name, such as “Bridget married Adam Tychy, she could be known as Bridget Adam, Bridget Adam Tychy or Bridget Tychy” (www.elizabethan.org/compendium/9.html). Anyone in the family who had an occupation, would be known by their job, such as a black smith who went by the name Austin for example, would possibly be known as Austin Black, as Austin Smith or possibly as Austin Black Smith.

There were many ways people socialized in a dating, marital and family level during the renaissance. Due To the changing of laws and morals, parents allowed their children more freedom in choosing their spouse. After signing the contracts and carrying out the betrothals and laws, the marriage would take place. As a child few freedoms such as clothing, were allowed, were as a teen to adult, more freedoms and identities were given. The renaissance was a true reflection of the modern age.