8.31- Marriage in Western Civilizations, and the constaint change of traditions

As expressed in the article, "History of Marriage in Western Civilizations", marriage was meerly a sacrament engaging two individuals to unite, creating a stronger family wellbeing.  This was thought of as a business to enhance a family, economically as well as socially.  This was the standard for marriage in most all western civilizations during earlier times.  This perfectly illustrates how traditions, even the most common, like arranged marriages or for the wellbeing of a family, can be easily changed or ended over time.  Traditions are something that works for the time period and with circumstances surrounding them, but when times change, traditions follow in the same fashion.  When arranged marriages were prevalent, males held all household power, and divorce was frequent.  Husbands could easily get rid of their current wives with no repercussions what so ever.  When Christianity began to expand, these ways changed dramatically.  Divorce was now highly frowned apon, and even restricted.  This began with Martin Luther's doctrines, as he created the branch of Christianity known as Lutheranism.  Traditions, not only marriage, is something that clearly can not remain, once times change.  Family traditions, also show prime examples of this.  Say a family tradition is to either go to a certain college or eat a specific christmas eve dinner.  Often, when one year is skipped, or a generation decides to go their own way, it is extremely difficult to re-enter a tradition when a link of the chain has been detatched.  Even if it is picked up again, it will not be as strong as before.  Traditions in modern day, can be made possible, but it is much than ever before.  Individuals seemingly have more rights than ever before, both men and women, and people tend to go their own way to avoid the norm.