I am currently reading a book "Celtic Mythology" by Ward Rutherford, in it he states that there are 10 forms of celtic marriage. I was wondering if any information currently is available on this subject. Would care to know how each worked and the social dynamics. Were they forms in a legal sence as relating to property or some form of polyamorous communal living? If any one could shed some light here it would be most appreciated. please respond to expatriate82@yahoo.com I will be creating an account here so I'll fwd the username will probably be "expatriate" though.

Greetings, expat,
It is my understanding that one of the ten forms was marriage for a year; at the end of the year either partner could terminate the marriage by telling the other, "I divorce you." Who kept what of the property each brought to the marriage, I do not know, though such things were normally carefully regulated by both law and custom. Nor can I tell you without further research my source for the above; it was found in relation to the famous chief and pirate Grainne (Grace O'Malley).
I hope others will contribute more.
Best wishes to all,
Nessa

sounds like a reasonable system. Perhaps a 10 year re-think could be included?

It's called 'hand-fasting', wherein they were married for a year and a day. The woman kept custody of the child (since it was obvious that it was hers, but not that it was his), but I'm not overly sure on the property. I think the customs may have varied depending on the tribe and the locations. We should really re-instate the whole thing: would save alot of divorce fees. *G* In the Norse tradition, all they had to do, if I remember right, was walk into the room, and if they agreed to dissolve the marriage then one would walk out of one door and the other would walk out of the opposite door and it was over. Sounds like a plan to me. *S*

Just remembered....there was also marriage for 'this lifetime' and marriage for 'eternity', which was a really big deal since they believe in reincarnation and the immortality of souls (pre-Christianity).

There is often some good information at the following site.
http://www.imbas.org/imbas.htm

hey LS, was there any spam-throwing involved in that tradition? *ducks just in case*

I wanted to post in response to the original question how social dynamics within Celtic marriage worked.
"Would care to know how each worked and the social dynamics. Were they forms in a legal sence as relating to property or some form of polyamorous communal living?"

One of the most common forms included hand fasting ( outlined above) - the purpose of which, was that the child who resulted from a liaison could be recognized by both clans as a "legal" member. There was also a marriage of opprotunity but, unlike today that included the one night stand. The reason goes back to recognition of that child as a member of both clans.

Children were entitled to both parents property provided that no other children were from that marriage arrangement. If there were other children then, typically the oldest regardless of gender would inhert the property and livestock ect.

In response to the Celts being Poly - they could enter into more than one marriage but, this was not often done due to the close ties within clan structures. Marriage after all was also, a political alliance.

Remember also,if a woman owned land she could be drafted by her clan into war. If she was married, she could also be drafted legally by her husbands clan. The Celts like to get into clan disputes often and so, these political alliances could be tricky.Marriage entered you legally and socially into your spouses family as a legal and social representative.

It is also important to note that unlike Christian thought, woman are not property of their husbands nor, are husbands property of the wife. They were free to conduct their affairs as they choose too outside of marriage. This was often done with discretion and not in the public sphere as - we are back to political and social alliances and loyalties. Sexual fidelity was neither demanded or expected.

Marriage existed not out of a bound of love as much, as a bond of political, economic, and social cohesion. Because of this, both partners in a marriage were subject to the clans elders. This means you had to respect your mother-in-laws demands! It also means you had to support another mans child. Certain forms of marriage between your wife and another man would protect that child from being killed by a resentful spouse. It went the other way around with woman raising children that were not theirs as well.

Also keep in mind that when your village was invaded your nine year old child, who was raised to yield weapons would be also be fighting because, be it other tribes, the Romans, Saxons, Visagoths - they didn't care - your children were also just as likely to get slaughtered.

This said, if your partner became infertile or you lost all of your children, the clan needed to be built back up - you allianced yourself with another stronger clan to help defend yours and to produce more children.

I am pointing this out because, like many Celtic, Pict, and Iberian traditions - they have been romanticized by modern culture to take connotations that did not exist at the time these laws were respected. Christianity was not our native religion - it was shoved down our throat. Many of the social and political problems we have today are a result of being under Roman rule over a century ago. I am not saying this to be "Anti-Christian" - I was raised Christian. I have deep respect for the religion and those who practice it.
I am pointing this out because, many of todays Christian holidays have been misappropriated from these three cultures.
The spiral you so often see in Celtic art is in fact, not Celtic it is Pict. It was most likely a representation of the Milky Way. Before you scoff at this consider that they were indeed into Astrology much like native Chinese and Australian tribes who, also a symbol for our galaxy. The Celt's,Iberian's and Pict's often inner-married. That is no doubt, why we see the spiral on Halstat.

The legend of Morrigan as a witch in Authurs court was a Celtic misappropriation of an Iberian legend where she was a a healer.

Halloween, was a misappropriation of Samhain ( Celtic New Year) where we traditionally would honour our ancestors, the dead before us, and give them offerings for safe passage into another life. (Yes, transmigration!)

Easter with its symbols of flowers, eggs, chickens, lambs ect. were misappropriations of Celtic, Iberian, and Pict fertility symbols and sacrifice. It has connotations with water deities ( our well spirits). Remember, these people were Polytheist.

No where in that book - I know I have read it - does he mention that the Celts often took an honours opponents head! They believed the soul was stored there. Notice, we never see head hunters in the movies! We see Celts with blue face paint though - and that is also Pict!

Modern day celebrations of Beltain are very far removed from the Beltain we once celebrated. Now in many circles it has become an excuse to spread Aids and Hepatitis by engaging in unprotected sex orgies. Yes, I acknowledge that orgies were not uncommon at this holiday celebration but, they were viewed as a magical ritual not, as way to get off. After all, your livestocks does not breed, your crops fail - you die. What do you want with more children when you cannot feed yourself?! It was viewed as a means of protecting the food supply.

The Druids of the past have been romanticized. The Druids were scholars - both male and female! What is more dangerous to your enemy - the peasants who have only agricultural knowledge or the politicians who can read and write? Am I the only one who sees the silliness in presenting our Senators a thousands years from now dancing around a fire in robes preforming fertility rituals? *OK so we have Clinton doing that in the White House but, let us not go there*

The Druids did have knowledge of language even though, we have very few written records. The reason for this were the constant invasions. I would not tell my enemies where I was holding this or that ceremony or ritual so, they could come in and slaughter the entire clan. I am guessing, although there is no way of knowing, that they destroyed their records to prevent them from getting into enemy hands.
Records of legal marriage, land, alliances ect. would have to be kept as would, city stores ect. The lack of ability to read and write amongst the Druids defies common sense.

My point is that romanticizing the truth leads us away from the culture, the people, and their social network. This has traditionally, not worked out well.
An example: In South America - when the Spanish brought over Catholicism- the priest were showing the native tribes depictions of Christ on the cross. Never did it occur to them that these people performed blood sacrifices daily and might relate to this in a different light. A week latter they came back to the village to find the native tribe had crucified their children in honour of their God!
Taking religious or social constructs out of their native cultures by romanticizing the beliefs leads twisted versions of the original.

And on one last note: I am Celt/Iberian/Pict! I am also Polynogamous. Before you go thinking about entering into any lifestyle - you need to think clearly about your intentions, be completely honest with your partners and consider the pitfalls of your actions. Keeping one relationship together today is difficult enough but, keeping two together - whereby all three partners are in constant relation to each other economically, socially, and emotionally is even more difficult.
You would be, sharing your money, children, house ect. with someone you may not even like.

As far as the suggestion that this would work in Modern times - food for thought - 3,000 years ago Women had the right to vote, own land, were drafted into the military, and were battled trained. Their children were educated by the clan. Every resource the clan had went into basic support of other members of the clan. Woman were also priest, scholars, and politicians. The Celts did not have a word for homosexual. The thought never occurred to them that this constituted "different". Women were viewed as equals! Total equals.
Our society is working towards that...but 1,700 yeas latter we are not there yet. Furthermore, we live in a society that is full of consumerism and based on capitalism. In order to make the Celtic forms of marriage work you would have too...
produce enough income to support your families basic necessities ( this means your In-Laws, your family, their children) (Your spouses other spouse, their children, their clan. You would have to live in close proximity to them. Practice the same religion. If another allied clan requested resources - you would be politically bound to send them resources. In doing this, could you afford to live in 1,200 sq foot house and own a 20,000$ car? I think not!
You would also have to remove all social constructs existing of what it means to be inside the group and outside the group. We would have to remove racial bias, gender bias, and we would have to remove language barriers. We would have to go back to an eye for eye...this means that if a jealous spouse assaulted you, your children, or in fact tried to kill a member of your clan - you are bound to start a war with their clan. This was an honour/shame society! Our murder rate would go through the roof!

Your religious practices and belies would have to be rewritten. You would have to begin believing in Unity of all living creatures, the planet, and even those you do not like as part of God. The social services would have to be abolished - because social services come from inside the clan associations not outside of them. If you lacked resources you would have to go start a fight with a wealthier clan ( yes civil war) to get enough to feed your family. You would be required to grow or hunt everything you needed. The Celts, Iberian, Pict's, Polynesians, Jamon, and many other tribal cultures that have made this work operate on these basic principles.
I really do not see Unity and Socialism working in this culture to make Polygamy feasible. Especially, with the dangers of HBV/HIV and our current generation who are into the "hook ups" not the relationship construct.
There is also the issue of children and whom they belong or do not belong too. We have children in the foster care system as it is because, of our high abuse rates, domestic violence, drug abuse, and poverty. In the age of Meth, your asking for a social disaster right there.
There is also the issue of the over-population. Our planet is currently massively over-populated and growing steadily. We are waring over what few resources are left. Yeah, we have birth control which, fails! Open this up - and in this society of pass the buck, consumerism, instant gratification, and discrimination - you are asking for a break down of society. We have essentially, become the new Roman Empire. So, please do not romanticize the pitfalls of these arrangements.

I live in a very similar arrangement - I go to work, then school, then, I come home to the demands of two different people - whom, I have responsibilities too. There are 7 children involved. These children come first. ALL of the resources go there first then, to our families. We are currently supporting my mother, brother, my husbands brother, sister, and we are also supporting my other partners parents. They are disabled and permanently unable to work. I live with 3 generations of my family, and two of my husbands. Arguments occur daily! Jealousy occurs. People get put on hold when they want something for people who need something. Inner-Clan disputes erupt. My husbands family believes they should have priority over my family because, they were raised in a religion where men dominated women. My family is matriarchal. Resources get stretched thin - fights erupt from that. Kids act up and get both side of their family - and the third family all over them. Parenting styles clash.
Having been in this arrangement for years - I can tell you that the Celtic forms of marriage were difficult.

Ugh, sounds like Jerry Springer