Marriage Etiquette

People in Papua New Guinea have seldom had the autonomy to pick their marital partner in the past. Men and women would spend time with the other gender in 'supervised courting sessions' once they were initiated into adulthood. This is still done in villages, when members from different clan groupings are partnered for strategic objectives.

People have limited influence over who they marry, which might lead to incompatible pairing. However, some women have left their native village or threatened suicide in order to avoid the scheduled relationship. Because certain tribes practice polygamy, there are more unmarried males than women. Furthermore, 'large guys' tend to attract more spouses because of their esteemed social standing.

Bidding on brides is an integral part of the wedding process. The 'bride price,' as it is called, includes members from various clans bidding on and paying for a bride from a clan that is wanted as a prospective ally. Pigs, food, shells, and, more lately, money are all examples of typical prices. However, as Papua New Guinea becomes more urbanized and a cash economy is implemented, this custom gradually is changing. Marriage rites differ considerably across Papua New Guinea's diverse cultures. A wedding ceremony may last many days or weeks and include a lot of eating, all-night singing, gift and food exchange.