Marriage Customs and Practices

Subject : Social Studies

Term : First Term

Week : Week 4

Topic : Marriage Customs and Practices In Nigeria

Previous Knowledge : The pupils have been taught

Process of changing culture and differences 

in their previous lesson

Behavioural Objectives : At the end of the lesson, the pupils should be able to

1. Define marriage

2. List marriage practices and customs in Nigeria

Instructional Materials :

Wall charts

Pictures

Online materials

Textbook

Marriage certificate

Bridal requirement list before marriage

Wedding gown

Teaching methods 

Discussion

Demonstration

Dramatization

Entry Behaviour

1. Has anyone attended any marriage ceremony here before?

2. What are the items that were on display during the traditional wedding or engagement

3. Why is wedding ring necessary during church wedding

Content

What is marriage?

Marriage is the legal union of a man and a woman coming to live together as legally married couples.

This is quite difference from a man and a woman living together without the intending bridegroom performing all the necessary rites and rights bride. This is not marriage but just an ordinary cohabitation.

Some ethnic groups or tribes frown at such unlawful union and in the case of untimely death of the intending bride, the family members of the late bride will still force the husband to be to perform all the necessary marriage rites and customs despite the fact that the intending bride is late.

Types of Marriage Practices and Customs In Nigeria

There are four major types of marriage practices in Nigeria with their different practises and customs.

There are

1. Christians or Church marriage

2. Moslem or Islam Marriage (Nikah)

3. Traditional marriage

4. Marriage by Ordinance ( Court Marriage)

Christians or Church marriage  practices or Customs

• The marriage rites are performed in accordance to the dictates of the words of God in the Bible
• The couples are expected not to have carnal knowledge of each other before coming to the alter for blessings
• Marriage vows are exchanged between the two couples to stay with each other for better for worst till death do them apart
• The bride is expected to be in white bridal gown to express her Cleanliness, purity and virginity.
• Rings are exchanged as a symbol of love and commitment to each other.
• Family members are always their there to witness the ceremony
• Couples are given gifts as they begin a new life after the wedding.

Moslem or Islam (Nikah) marriage practices and customs

• This type of marriage is always done in the present of Islamic clerics and teachers
• The intending wife to be or the bride is expected to cover up her face with veil before the bridegroom unveil her after all the necessary marriage rites have been done
• The bride does not have to be present so long as she sends two witnesses to the drawn-up agreement. The consent of the parents must be seek and approval must be given before then marriage rites can be made
• Normally, the ceremony consists of reading from the Qur’an, and the exchange of vows in front of witnesses for both partners.
• There must also be offer and acceptance among the young couples that want to live together forever as husband and wife so that it will not be as if it is a forced decision on them

Traditional Marriage Practices in Nigeria

• This is done in accordance with native laws, customs and tradition of the land
• The bride may even be pregnant as at the time that the traditional wedding is being conducted, this does not really matter at all. It is even a very good welcome development
• Some people now cleverly call the traditional marriage INTRODUCTION nowadays.
• Items like salt sugar, honey, sugar cane, alligator pepper or kola nut are used to pray for the intending couples.

Marriage by Ordinance ( Court Marriage) Practices In Nigeria

• Court is a place where legal issues are dealt with.
• This type of marriage is actually done in a marriage registry in any local government.
• The most popular one is the marriage registry at Ikoyi
• The purpose of going to the registry to get the union register is to legally cement the marriage relationship.
• Hence the wife legally has right to some extent the properties or belongings of the husband.
• Going to the registry also shows that the union has government hand in it
• A certificate is issued to authenticate the union

Presentation

The Topic is presented step by step

Step 1 :

The class teacher revises the old topic

Step 2

The class teacher introduces the new topic

Step 3

He or she allows the pupils to give their own contributions and he or she corrects them when the needs arise

Evaluation

1. What is marriage?

2. How many marriage practices do we have in Nigeria?

3. What is Nikah?

4. Mention four items that may be used for prayer during traditional marriage?

5. Why does the bride need to wear white wedding gown during her wedding ceremony?

Conclusion

The class teacher concludes them lesson by giving out a chalkboard summary of the lesson that he or she has just explained. He or she also gives out some questions as evaluation. The class teacher does the necessary corrections and he or she goes round to do the marking

Assignment

Roles Played By Family Members In Marriage