Berdelism: Difference between revisions

Berdelism  is a form of [[marriage]] that is an alternative to financial transaction such as giving a dower, dowry or bridewealth. In the case of a maiden or bachelorette within one's household, she is given in exchange for a female relative in the receiving household. In the event of a bachelor within one's household, he is given in exchange for a male relative in the receiving household. In other words, you either exchange males, or exchange females. So in essense, berdelism always involves four people. This type of [[marriage]] is useful for people who are not financially well-off and thereby can't afford to pay huge sums of money for weddings.