Human life is fleeting, and hard work and constant stress reduce this period. In addition, statistically women are more persistent, and men die earlier. Therefore, practically everyone knows what a “widow” is: by the example of his family, friends or colleagues. Today, this social institution does not stand out, but it used to be of particular importance and was regulated by many traditions and even laws.
What word is it?
The term refers to a woman whose spouse has died. However, several interpretations are possible at once for different situations:
- The classic widow. Lost her legal husband and does not even think to marry again.
- A woman who divorced her husband when he was still alive. Even if at the moment she is in another marriage.
- Black Widow. A poisonous spider and characterization for a woman whose men often die.
With the first option, everything is clear. The second can affect both official relations and an undocumented, but well-known love affair, affair. And the third meaning of the word “widow” is one of the most frightening, if we are not talking about a spider. Such a woman was considered damned, even if there were no prerequisites, and tried to stay away from her.
In parallel, there is the concept of "widowed . " It is devoid of tragedy, because it is most often used in the meaning of "live in separation." Of particular relevance during the military service for a period of 20 years, when in a large village several women at once could “boast” of such.
What customs accompany?
Residents of the 21st century will see wild rites that were performed during or after the funeral. Religious and secular laws prescribed terrible rituals:
- self-immolation of the spouse;
- suicide in any other way;
- burial with her husband;
- self-mutilation, etc.
The most harmless against this background can be considered a ban on remarriage or an obligation to marry a close relative of the deceased spouse in order to preserve the memory of him and not to lose his honor. And in this case, the community took upon itself the content of the woman.
By the way, the widower’s behavior in most cases was of no interest to anyone, and almost the only requirement was mourning. Now the legislation focuses exclusively on property rights: it gives priority to inheritance, guardianship, the allocation of pensions and compensations.
How does it work today?
In detail to tell what a "widow" can notaries. It is on their shoulders that most of the legal issues of this subject rest. As such, the institution in modern Russia has not survived: a secular state - secular customs. But a number of Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries adhere to harsh traditions, so be careful if you want to stay in the homeland of a foreign spouse.