In 1973 civil marriage celebrants first started to officiate at weddings in Australia. A decline in church attendance and personal choice being two contributing factors. This practice has spread now throughout the western world. Many popular traditions used in today’s ceremonies come from European and ancient Greek and Roman times. Nothing new under the sun, as the saying goes. To improve ceremonies officiants and celebrants have creatively included the arts……. readings, poetry, music, dance and film into ceremonies and society as a whole is richer for it..
After marriages name or name giving ceremonies started to be conducted……sometimes called a secular baptism. These ceremonies date back to ancient Greek and Roman times as well. The appointment of godparents was an inclusion in these ceremonies, now also known as guardians or mentors.
As time progressed, funerals and memorial services were added to civil celebrant and officiant activities and of course today ceremonies can be conducted to meet all societal needs…..whether they be for grief or celebration.
Because of the decline in church attendance it became important for the celebrant or officiant to transmit and reinforce not only values but good standards of behaviour and morality. This is evidenced in the structure and wording of most ceremonies today.
Many couples who although don’t attend a place of worship still have a spiritual aspect to their nature, spiritual connections to their land or other spiritual needs which can be fulfilled in ceremonies conducted by officiants and celebrants.This can be done powerfully using all the senses.
In Australia, the law states that celebrants must raise the subject of pre marriage education with each couple prior to marrying them, and to that end give the couple details of education facilitators in a town or city nearest them. This gives the couple every opportunity to have all important issues surrounding married life clarified prior to marriage.
Today’s society with all its complexity brings special needs for each one of us, and celebrating with ritual or marking a special occasion can be as important as the occasion itself. For example, having a divorce ceremony after a divorce to help with the healing and transition process from one phase of life to another.
One of the most overlooked occasions in need of ceremony in the developing culture of Australia is ‘introduction to adolescence’. This ceremony has the capacity to help teenagers cross the divide from childhood to adulthood more smoothly and with much more understanding.
Couples seeking assistance from a marriage officiant or celebrant, (not only for marriages), should be encouraged to retrieve and acknowledge their family cultural connections by adding ritualistic experiences to their own celebrations and ceremonies. Acknowledging family cultural ties is not only affirming for the family but adds to the experience for all involved. It helps to carry on the cultural traditions in future generations.
Ceremonies conducted by officiants and celebrants include;
Weddings, Name or name giving, Funerals/Memorials, Renewing of Vows, Same Sex Commitment/Recommitment, Birthdays, Mid Life Transition, Anniversaries, Adolescence, Career Transitions, Graduations, Home Blessing or Dedications, Step Acceptance, Divorce, Name Changing, Sorry Ceremonies, Seasons/Harvest etc
To read more about Elizabeth’s ceremonies……..
www.thevowsbook.com – a compilation of marriage ceremonies
www.renewalofvows.net – renewal of vows ceremonies
www.spiritualceremonies.info – spiritually inspired ceremonies
www.weddingvows101.net – 101 marriage or commitment vows
www.2ndmarriageceremonies.com – second marriage ceremonies
www.gaycommitmentceremony.net – gay commitment/marriage ceremonies
www.namegivingceremonies.com – name giving/naming ceremonies
www.wedding-ceremonies.net – more marriage ceremonies
www.divorce-ceremony.com – divorce ceremonies
www.ring-vows.com – vows to accompany the exchange of ring/s
(Acknowledgement for inspiration for article content from “Ceremonies and Celebrations” D. Messenger III)
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