I’m sure every religion has it’s own idiosyncrasies & Catholicism is no exception. Though yesterday I’m not sure if it was Catholicism and not the Catholics to blame.
It’s like this: Before a couple is allowed to get married in the Catholic Church, there are several things they must do. One of these is submit to the Church certain basic details like their complete names, along with the complete names of their families & proof of permanent residing address etc.
The Church in turn then reads notices (usually at a particular Mass on Sunday, being the most crowded) to the general janta (Church term: congregation) attending which may go something like this:
“This is to announce the Marriage Banns of:
Anthony Gonsalves (excuse me pls)
bachelor s/o Andrew James Gonsalves and Victorina Gonsalves
residing at 112, Imaginary St, Chembur, Bombaywith
Mary Jane D’Souza
spinster d/o Peter John D’Souza and Martha Anne D’Souza
residing at 111, Imaginary St, Chembur, BombayIf anyone knows any impediments as to why these two should not be joined in Holy Matrimony, inform the Church accordingly.”
‘Banns’ like these are read almost every Sunday as people get married throughout the year in our Churches - approximately a month before the wedding (which is I suppose to give people enough of time to phrase their impediments should they wish to submit them?)
It’s probably a safer (but definetely less fun for the janta) alternative to some Christian Churches who announce during the Nuptial ceremonies itself “Speak now, or forever hold your peace” where honestly I’m sure there are people wishing someone objects, just for the drama of it all. What fun!
Catholics Banns have kinda changed over the years though. Now - for some absurd reason - people await the reading of their banns in Church and after the Masses, people congratulate them. Some people even have ‘Bann parties’ after their banns are read & invite the whole family to come celebrate.
Celebrate what though? is the question -
* that their names were read in public? (yes, yipee)
* or that their names were read correctly in public? (nah, this hardly ever happens, what with at least 10 proper nouns per bann)
* maybe it’s the fact that no one has objected yet?
* or for those getting cold feet - maybe it’s a celebration of the fact that there’s hope… I can just see some poor sweaty-palmed groom-to-be thinking “I can’t break this off this far down the line - but maybe someone will… Please God, let them object”
One of my two “best friends” (aww) Del (whose type I’m shameless running down here, never mind she hardly reads my blog) had her banns read yesterday. In another church, not so far away, the banns of her future husband (assuming of course no one objects) Eli’s banns were also being read. Their Bann ‘lunch’ party started after Mass and went well into the evening (after which some of us ‘kids’ went out to have coffee & more to eat).
(click to enlarge)
I wore a new beautiful black silk kurta/pant suit with stone & sequin work down the front & one the sleeves & super sexy sequinned shoes to match - why? - to honor of the special moment. Yes, I guess I’m as mad as the rest of the macs.
Here’s to you two! Let’s hope no one objects 
More on Banns here (for high fundu Catholic explanation) and here (simple Wiki explanation)
; ?>/feed-icon-24x24.png){kind=icon}
November 27th, 2006 at 10:17 am
Bann Parties….people need a reason….
November 27th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
November 27th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
from birthdays to funerals…thats the way it shud be……
November 27th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
What’s life without excuses to mingle and have a pinch of fun and gossip?
November 27th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Hmm…nice outfit, lady.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
@ SloganMurugan: Don’t know, don’t want to find out…
@ IdeaSmith: Thx madam, missed you the other night!
November 28th, 2006 at 11:41 am
ah the banns of marriage. im glad i did’nt follow convention and married a) outside the religion and b)in a court in philadelphia.
personally i think marriage is not a means to an end, but the beginning of a journey..hope all these ppl who eagerly await their banns also think so
BTW an Anthony gonsalves marrying a Mary Jane? isn’t that kinda corny…
Amitabh bacchan marrying marijuana?
November 28th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Hey! U are looking pretty there gal…now is it the first time that I ever saw you in something ethnic!
November 28th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
i had no idea somehting like banns existsed ! and to think i have spend my life around catholics protestants greek orthodox and pretty much christians of all kinds ! and i totally second alex !!
November 28th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
And
about the “Amitabh Bacchan marrying Marijuana” - glad someone noticed!!! I was looking for some typical mac names & thought that was pretty cute a thing to dream up!!
it’s Alexis!!: Heya! Where you been big guy?! Been so long…
back in your mouth when you talk to your elders…
And put your
Incidentally for the record - my favorite clothing - hands down - is the sari - LOVE wearing saris! Makes me feel so feminine, so pretty, so Indian… Guess I just haven’t posted any pics here.
@ inexile: Think the Banns are primarily Catholic. As I mentioned in the post, the Christians (some of them) used to have a section during the service (which many of them omit now for obvious reasons) where they check & see if anyone objected. You may have caught this on a film or two? Don’t really know about the Greek Ortho church.
And thx
November 28th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
Nice post - explains ‘catholic marriages’ to me
PS: you are looking great!!
November 28th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
OMG I think I am reeling! U wear sarees too!!
LOL…dont take me seriously babe…I am just joking…but hey you really must post some sati savitri kind of pics here…would be amazing!
November 29th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
@ Alex: Glad somethings can send you reeling! lol… maybe one day will post some “sati savitri” pics of me. Unfortunately, even with a sari on I don’t think I quite quality for that title…
November 29th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Cho chorry didnt comment on ur blog last weekend. Just so you dont go hmph-ing me.
Just didnt know what to comment on those posts… a happy budday one, and a bann one?
Nice dress though
November 29th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Interesting read. Here in our church they read everything you mentioned except “If anyone knows any impediments as to why these two should not be joined in Holy Matrimony, inform the Church accordingly.” I haven’t heard this ever. Perhaps it was there before sometime, but slowly got off and became like an announcement of marriage or sort of. Not sure.
November 30th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Off topic: Melody, sorry about the mixup: Can you please change the URL in the blog roll to http://sloganmurugan.blogspot.com ?
November 30th, 2006 at 11:54 am
Bann sounds like a totally cool concept
What if one hires an “Impediment raiser”, say?
“Here, I have an impediment”
“Mr.Gomez, I believe you had raised an impediment on Sylvia’s marriage too”
“Sure did!”
“Sylvia, your Sister, Mr.Gomez”
“That’s right! Comes with the job. Johnny paid me like 3 wads for that, you know”
December 1st, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Yeah.. even here in goa .. ppl just need a reason to celebrate ..be it someones’s funeral afterparty (lol..i like to call it that ) ..or celebration coz someones little kiddo spoke her first words !! Celebrations …Thats what life is all about is’nt it ??
December 3rd, 2006 at 11:35 am
@ Jo: Well I guess as things filter down through the years & through different cultures things are bound to change, right?
@ Slo: Had both link actually! Took off the other one already.
@ Prasil:
lol to the “impediment raiser”. Just fyi, the impediment raising too has to be done through a specific fashion - for eg, I can’t just go and object to some forthcoming wedding because I want to.
I’d have to fill written forms & I’d have to have Church approved “valid reasons” - which would usually be (a) one of the parties is already married (b) children out of wedlock or something on those lines. I can’t go to the priest & say “I want to marry that boy, so I object!!”
@ Lothario: lol, the macs in Goa are even worse than the macs in Bbay! There it’s a celebration 365 days a year! but yes, what would life be without celebrations?!