Victoriano,
I can think of various translations of the verb "velar."
1.- [common] To stay awake, not to sleep; even as when "working the 'third
shift.' "
2.- [religion] To keep vigil. As in Rosaries and accompanying the body
throughout the night in funerals.
3.- [variant] To keep watch (hacer guardia).
4.- [figurative] To veil, to obscure, to hide.
In the instant case, I am convinced that it is a variation of number 4, and
relates to that integral portion of the catholic marriage ceremony where
the face of the bride is "unveiled" by the priest, and in modern ceremonies
commonly performed jointly by the best man and the maid of honor. In this
same context, we can note that "veiling ceremonies" sometimes were
conducted, at sites separate from where the marriage ceremony was
conducted, in such cases as when the bride and groom were 'vecinos' of
different parishes.
Hope this is not too confusing.
Efrain
> [Original Message]
> From: victorianonavarro
> To:
> Date: 6/12/2007 8:16:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nuestros Ranchos] Latin in Marriage Record
>
>
> A non literal translation could be:
> "After doing all I was supposed to do according to the Catholic rites, I
marry and watch over before the Church (or in the front part of the
building, as conrique says) these persons..."
> Or:
> "after the formalities and examination of the christian doctrine I marry
and I watch over before the Church, this guy and his bride...."
> Regards,
> VN
Efrain, et al:
The velacion refered to in the documents does not really fall within any of the vernacular definitions of velacion in Spanish... perhaps the closest such definition would be number 3. The term comes from the Latin velatio nuptialis, which was a ceremony that until recent times was completely seperate from the actual marriage ceremony. It often took place weeks or months after the casamiento. Old marriage records often have seperate records of a "velacion" months after the "desposamiento"
Probably we shall be right in assuming that the first effort everywhere made by the Church to impart a religious character to the contract of marriage was by requiring or urging the married pair to be present at a special Nuptial Mass. The Mass itself constitutes the highest form of consecration and the available evidence points strongly to the conclusion that in such very different matters as the dedication of a church or the burial of the dead, the Christians of the first few
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According to my mother, in modern "Mexican" weddings, there are "padrinos de velación." They stand on either side of the bride and groom and are normally a long-time married couple and the main "padrinos." They are are to set an example for the newly married couple. They're supposed to bare testimony that the couple has not been previously married by the Church, etc., etc., etc...Either the "velación" came from the padrinos "watching over" the new couple, or maybe they were the ones to lift the veil as someone previously explained...
arturoramos wrote:
Efrain, et al:
The velacion refered to in the documents does not really fall within any of the vernacular definitions of velacion in Spanish... perhaps the closest such definition would be number 3. The term comes from the Latin velatio nuptialis, which was a ceremony that until recent times was completely seperate from the actual marriage ceremony. It often took place weeks or months after the casamiento. Old marriage records
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Arturo, Efrain, et al
Just for the heck of it I consulted my old copy of the Real Academia's dictionary. Their entry for 'velacion' is: (Del Latin 'velatio, velationis', accion de tomar el velo.) Ceremonia instituida por la Iglesia catolica para dar solemnidad al matrimonio, y que consiste en cubrir con un velo a los conyuges en la misa nupcial que se celebra, por lo comun, inmediatamente despues del casamiento." This is essentially what Arturo said in English below.
David, Albany, CA
-----Original Message-----
>From: arturoramos
>Sent: Jun 13, 2007 4:18 PM
>To: research@lists.nuestrosranchos.org
>Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] Latin in Marriage Record and veiling ceremony
>
>
>Efrain, et al:
>
>The velacion refered to in the documents does not really fall within any of the vernacular definitions of velacion in Spanish... perhaps the closest such definition would be number 3. The term comes from the Latin velatio nuptialis, which was a ceremony that until recent times was
- Inicie sesión para enviar comentarios
Latin in Marriage Record and veiling ceremony