WeddingFamilyDivorce

in America

WeddingThere are many traditions and customs for weddings in the United States, most of which are based on a wide array of factors such as religion, culture, and social norms.

There are not many wedding traditions that are unique to the United States because most are derived from other cultures. Most of these customs stem from Europe.

It is customary to give newlyweds gifts for their new home together at the wedding reception. To prevent duplicate gifts and having to return gifts that are not liked, most couples "register" at department stores..

Couples pick out items they would like to receive as gifts, and their friends and family can choose to buy one of those items

To marry by elopement means that the wedding ceremony is done in secret, usually with just witnesses. Even though eloping seems simple, the marriage's secrecy can complicate family relationships.

46% of couples eloping do so because of parental opposition to the marriage, 20% of couples elope to avoid attention, 12% because of financial reasons, 8% due to an unexpected pregnancy, and 14% for other reasons.

Today, couples in the United States are waiting later in life to get married. The average age for males getting married in the United States is 27 years old, whereas, women's average age is 25

Religious Traditions

The most important traditions for Christian weddings are the blessing and exchange of wedding bands and the bride and groom each offering his or her own wedding vows.

In a Jewish wedding both the bride and the groom are walked down the aisle by both of their parents, which is different from other religions.

Jewish couples are married under the chupah, which resembles a decorated tent like structure. This symbolizes that the bride and groom are coming together and creating a new home

The ketubah is a Jewish wedding contract. The rabbi reads it under the chupah after the ring ceremony.

Many couples frame their ketubah and display it in their home. Traditionally, the ketubah was written in Aramaic, but today many Jews use Hebrew instead.

Chinese weddings in America have been modernized , traditionally the bride and groom would wear traditional red outfits.

Today, the bride wears a traditional white dress and have the ceremony in a church, then for the reception she wears a traditional Chinese dress.

The Chinese custom of money giving is meant to help the couple pay for the wedding. If you agree with the concept and want to be culturally appropriate, put the money or gift card in a red envelope.

Family In 2013, more than one-in-four 26% of people ages 18 to 32 were married. In 1960, well over half 65% of Americans of the same age group were married.

In 1960, women ages 15 to 24 accounted for 40% of mothers with infants. By 2011, that number had dropped to 22%.

Today, an American woman, on average, is expected to have 1.9 children, compared with a total fertility rate of 3.7 children in 1960.

More babies are born to unmarried mothers than ever before. Unmarried women accounted for 41% of births in 2011, up from just 5% in 1960.

Intermarriage among people of different races is increasingly common. In 1980, just 7% of all marriages in the U.S. were between spouses of a different race or ethnicity. In 2010, that share has doubled to 15% of all new marriages in the U.S.

 Some 3 million (37% of) lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults have had a child at some point in their lives.

Divorce

ReasonsYoung age. Marriage at a very young age increases the likelihood of divorce, especially in the early years of marriage.

Less education. Researchers have estimated that individuals who have some college education (vs. not finishing high school) have a lower chance of divorce

Less income. Closely related to education is income. Researchers have estimated that individuals with annual incomes of more than $50,000 have a lower chance of divorce (compared to individuals with annual incomes less than $25,000)

Premarital cohabitation. Couples who live together before marriage appear to have a much higher chance of divorce if they marry.

No religious affiliation. Researchers have estimated that individuals who report belonging to some religious group have a somewhat lower chance of divorce than those who say they have no religious affiliation

Parents’ divorce. Of course, some risk factors for divorce you can’t control. If you experienced the divorce of your parents, unfortunately that doubles your risk for divorce

Insecurity. Researchers have found that some personality factors put people at more risk for divorce. Insecure individuals are more likely to become It is interesting to note that a significant number of divorced individuals—maybe up to about half—report that they wished they or their exspouse had tried harder to work through differences.

Premarital childbearing and pregnancy. Pregnancy and childbearing prior to marriage significantly increase the likelihood of future divorce

SPEAKINGGroup 1If you could have your wedding in space where there is no gravity, what would the wedding be like? ( For example: what kind of food, what kind of music, what’s the dress code, and who’s invited.)

Group 2If there is a song that can slow dance to with your wife/husband at your wedding what song would it be and why?

Writing• In your experience do you think divorce is a

prevalent thing in our community? What do you think are some reasons that lead people to divorce in Mongolia?