Kinda strange...the concept of "giving" your child away...?

Question

It's sort of a funny custom how fathers walk their daughters down the isle for the big-day, like sort of passing the baton.

But what happened to the custom of actually courting a woman...when you FIRST went to her father to ask permission to even approach his own daughter...what happend to that?

I think todays measure of "dating" is really just whoring around(both men/woman)...

Answer 1

omg...these days women do not need their fathers permission to pick a man...plus if it were up to fathers their daughters would never date!

Answer 2

Are you a new dad by any chance? Considering most folks don't live at home after they leave for college and often live hundreds of miles away from home it would be rather hard for every new guy that is interested in a woman to call up dad and ask permission. He may not even know where to look for dad. And for those women whose fathers have died and who have no close male relatives what would their options be? You have an interesting view on dating but if you want to wait for the right person or demand someone ask for permission/or ask permission yourself before starting a relationship feel free to do so.

Answer 3

Some people still do it... But for the most part, it's irrelevant to ask the father, as fathers nowadays have virtually no say in their daughters' choice. I do think it's a funny tradition, the whole "giving away" part, I come from a culture where there is no such custom - the bride and groom walk up to the officiant together side by side. But just for fun, I had my dad "give me away" at my last wedding - he thought it was great, and enjoyed the heck out of it, even though he doesn't speak a word of English.

Answer 4

Guys never ask parents permission to date their daughters anymore, probably because women aren't considered their parents property anymore. Thats a very old custom. My fiance did ask both my parents for permission to marry me though, just out of respect ( but I would have married him even if they said no anyway).

On a related note, my Catholic church told us they don't believe in anyone "giving" the bride away because the bride is not a piece of property to be given away (even though thats how it was back in the day). The bride and groom are making a commitment (of their own free will) to spend the rest of their lives together and, as such, should be free to give themselves to each other. I think its makes very good sense, but both my parents want to walk me down the isle together so i'm going to allow them to do so. I'm just going to think of it as them joining me in my decision to give myself to my new husband.

Answer 5

The women's right movement :) Women are no longer considered their father's property so the guys are not required to ask him anymore. At my wedding the priest had both sets of our parents to stand up and asked if they would support our marraige, not who was giving me away. A nice touch but I still wanted my dad to walk me down the aisle.

Answer 6

Woman no longer follow their parents wishes in who they marry so asking the father permission is really archaic....although some guys still will ask.

Courting is now called dating and being engaged.

Answer 7

The giving away really should only be done when the daughter is going directly from her father's home to that of her husband.
My guy and I walked down the aisle together, for us it signified that we were mature, independent people!

Answer 8

My husband did that for me and my father. He talked to my father before we got engaged and asked for my hand in marriage. He's one of the few gentlemen left on this earth.

Answer 9

I personally hated the idea of being "given away." Found it to be stupid. However, my parents threw a fit & I gave in to save myself at least one argument.

Answer 10

My fiance spoke to my grandfather (dad isn't really around) before asking for my hand.