The room was full of people but not one made a sound. A young man had just asked a prominent noble's daughter to join him in union. No one dared disturb the silence, either to avoid embarrassing the man, or enraging her father further.
Courting a Noble
Courtship between nobles is the one most commonly presented in works of literature, theatre, and music. It involves making a proposal during the
Spring Wind Festival and following that up with many gifts, galas, and other grand gestures. These gestures are, in most cases, performed by a man. Though on a few occasions and in literature, women can be the suitor. If the recipient of the gifts and gestures finds them adequate, they will be joined in the autumn of that same year. In the situation that the suitor is found inadequate, no joining will occur and the pursued will not receive and further proposals until the next spring.
Courting a Merchant
Merchants often choose a companion that is able to compliment their work, or bring in money from their family. This will allow them to expand their business, find new opportunities, and prosper as a couple. Also, a companion that doesn't cost too much money, is a good companion. Joinings involving merchants can happen suddenly with only a document signing, or be a planned event with lots of friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors. In the situation that a merchant is courting a noble, they would likely follow the traditions of the noble class.
Courting a Craftsman
Craftsmen are not known for their spare time in which to pursue romance because of this, it is common for romance to come to them. Unlike the other types of courtship the
Burm follow, the woman is often the active player in this situation. The most common way for it to begin is for her to bring food to the craftsman while he works. This will either fizzle or escalate to full-blown dinner within a season or so. If dinner goes well, they could be joined in less than five cycles.
Courting a Laborer
Laborers form pairs of working individuals. The time spent working varies from season to season, with the most time available in the winter. During this time, it is common for them to meet each other, spend time together or as part of a larger group in various establishments, eating, drinking, and being merry. Of all the classes in
Burim, laborers have the least defined customs around joinings.
Courting a Farmer
The most common situation among farmers is marriages arranged by the parents of two farms located near each other. This joining is done at the youngest age among the classes - in the range of 14-16 years old, though many unions are negotiatied or decided on by the parents much earlier. There is a ceremony in which family and friends celebrate that occurs following the year's harvest. After a joining, one will move in with the family of the other and continue that multi-generational household.
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