ThornsWiki ThornsWiki

Courtship

Without exception, courtship in Hox is often subdued and surprisingly lengthy, though, especially among galdorkind, arranged marriages are still culturally acceptable practices even if marital fidelity is not always a requirement when it comes to those arrangements.

Dating is not much of a solid or definite concept in Hox, nor is it usually ever a formal agreement. Hoxians of all races are more likely to have open relationships until marriage, exploring compatibility and curiosities in their youth before making any legal commitments, if they ever make any at all. Humanity places much more emphasis on courtship and family expectation, though wicks are the most likely to place value on romance and its pursuits. Galdori prefer to let relationships develop more naturally, often encouraging friendship to include sexual exploration and considering various compatibility interests long before declaring anything with formality.

Both humans and galdori seek approval from their elders and immediate family when a relationship becomes serious, though often, much like in Mugroba, families find ways to somehow be involved from the beginning. Public displays of affection are culturally unheard of or frowned upon at best, especially among galdori, but the giving and mutual enjoyment of music, art, and poetry are often very important parts of galdori courtship. Private exchanges of feelings and intimacies are an important part of Hoxian romance, captured sometimes scandalously in literature, though they are definitely kept as out of the public view as possible.

Marriage and Unions

Marriage in Hox is not always considered necessary or legally obligated, though humans find the security and spiritual significance of recognizing a formal marital union a very important part of their social structure. Galdori marriage is very understated and more like a civil union than a celebrated event. Even once legally recognized, there is no social obligation to remain together, there is definitely an unspoken emotional one. The willingness to marry someone else is considered a very obvious expression of one person's innermost feelings for another and despite how it all sounds, the commitment of marriage is not actually taken lightly.

Galdori Marriage

Galdori marriage in Hox is more of a civil union, made by representatives of the Court of the People or by a Mhoren Basheva, usually with family or close friends as witnesses. There are no ceremonies or celebrations unless it is the desire of the couple, but traditionally gifts are given in the season before the marriage is to take place, anonymously to support the pair in creating a home together.

Because cohabitation before marriage is not considered a cultural oddity, many galdori only choose to get married as a form of deep emotional expression of their love and commitment to each other in private.

Hoxians who marry outside of the Kingdom are either enthused by the celebrations and fanfare places like Bastia and Anaxas insist upon or disturbed by the ceremony of places like Gior and Hesse. Many Hoxians who marry foreigners end up with a subdued version of their spouse's wedding style.

Despite it's lack of outward celebration, however, marriage is a very respected union among Hoxian galdori. Arranged marriages are still common among older, traditionalist families, especially farmers and artisans in order to maintain the family name and lineage.

Human Marriage

Humans celebrate marriage more than their galdori counterparts, usually with a feast and with song. Marriages are always approved by both families involved, often after a very long courtship.

Wick Marriage

Marriage is not an important institution to the nomadic wicks of Hox, though a union between lovers as a recognition of their bond and sentiment is not unheard of. Unions are always celebrated wildly on the Steppes with feasts and family gatherings.

Divorce and Separation

Divorce is very uncommon in Hox, and if it occurs at all, it is usually for extreme cases of abuse or disagreement. More often than not, married couples simply choose to separate, to take on lovers, or to endure their difficulties with each other out of duty to children or a lingering need to honor their once-intimate friendship.