Roman Customs that persist in modern (Italian etc) society

[flavia]

Flavia:
Do you have access to any of the writings of Walter Burkert? A lot of his theories are perhaps a bit stretched, but he traces many "cultural" activities through antiquity. Some of these survive.

My favourite, and I apologize if I offend anyone, is marriage as a relic of ancient blood sacrifice.

Take your "typical" sacrifice:

Chosen animal is often adorned. Bride is dressed in white, is adorned.
Animal is led to a "sacred" place. Bride goes to church.
Animal is led to sacrificial altar. Bride is led to altar.
Sacrificial "pirests" often lead animal with a basket of grain. This shows the animal has followed willingly. The grain is then thrown on the altar or the animal. Just as rice is thrown on the newly wed couple.
The animal is slaughtered and all share in the meal. There is a wedding feast.

I know it is a stretch, but there seems to be surviving parralels. Reading Burkert is always interesting, even if you are not sold on his ideas.

Kevin

I don'y think it is that much of a stretch there are too many parallels aren't there to be coincidence Thanks Flavia