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'''Human–animal marriage'''  is a concept not recognized in [[law]] by any state, although attempts to [[marriage|marry]] [[human]]s to other [[animal]]s have been recorded.{{cn|date=April 2016}} The topic has frequently existed in terms of [[Magic|magical]] fiction, in contrast to those with [[Rationalism|rationalist]] perspectives.<ref name="Germany"/>
'''Human–[[animal marriage]]'''  is a marriage between a (non-human) animal and a human. This topic has appeared in mythology and [[magic in fiction|magical fiction]].<ref>[http://www.diacronia.ro/en/journal/issue/4/A58/en/pdf Naithani, Sadhana (2014). Folklore Theory in Postwar Germany.] University Press of Mississippi. pp. 48–52. {{ISBN|9781617039942}}.</ref> In the 21st century there have been numerous reports from around the world of humans marrying their pets and other animals. Human–animal marriage is often seen in accordance with [[zoophilia]], although they are not necessarily linked. Although animal-human marriage is not mentioned specifically in national laws, the act of engaging in [[Zoophilia and the law|sexual acts with an animal]] is illegal in many countries under animal abuse laws.


==Background and context==
== Animal–human marriage in mythology ==
[[Folklore]] relationships between [[human beings]] and non-human [[animals]] exist throughout many different [[Culture|cultures]] in varying ways given the diversity of [[Mythology|mythological stories]]. Generally speaking, however, analysis by scholars such as [[Lutz Röhrich]] have found common elements in that [[domesticated animals]] appear to flourish in these tales only after [[Agriculture|agricultural]] civilization develops. Animals perceived as being fundamentally 'wild', such as [[ants]] and [[fish]], possess abilities that assist [[protagonists]] while still exercising independent natures, such as fish choosing to retrieve things accidentally discarded in water. Closer association with humans and a sense of being less dangerous correlates with higher perceived intelligence and notions of human-animal bonding. In tales from Africa to Australia to North America and elsewhere, many [[Origin myth|orgin myths]] view animals and humans descending together into Earth; a great many stories chronicled pre-[[Enlightenment]] depict the likes of [[cats]], [[dogs]], and [[roosters]] interacting with people at a roughly even level.<ref name="Germany">{{citebook|title=Folklore Theory in Postwar Germany|first=Sadhana|last=Naithani|pages=48-52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sPYaBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA52&dq=%22human-animal+marriage%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiludq5ppHMAhVln4MKHfUNDM8Q6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=%22human-animal%20marriage%22&f=false|date=2014|ISBN=9781617039942|publisher=University Press of Mississippi}}</ref>
The practice of animal-human marriage has made appearances in several [[Mythology|mythological]] stories and [[folklore]], and is often understood to mean a deity-human marriage involving gods or heroes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Miller|first=Alan L.|date=1995-01-01|title=The Woman Who Married a Horse: Five Ways of Looking at a Chinese Folktale|jstor=1178945|journal=Asian Folklore Studies|volume=54|issue=2|pages=275–305|doi=10.2307/1178945}}</ref> The Chinese folktale "The Goddess of the Silkworm" is an example of a tale where a woman marries a [[horse]].<ref name=":0" /> A similar Irish [[legend]] tells of a king who marries a horse, symbolizing a divine union between the king and the goddess of the land.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/stpatrickofirela00phil|url-access=registration|title=St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography|last=Freeman|first=Philip|date=2004-03-17|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=9780743267496|language=en}}</ref> Also the indigenous [[Cheyenne]] have a story of animal-human marriage in "The Girl who Married a Dog".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Stensland|first=Anna Lee|date=1977-01-01|title=The Indian Presence in American Literature|jstor=815804|journal=The English Journal|volume=66|issue=3|pages=37–41|doi=10.2307/815804}}</ref> In addition, there are many Native American stories about people who married animals. In these Native American myths, animal spirits frequently assume human form.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Native-American-Mythology.html|title=Native American Mythology – Myth Encyclopedia – god, story, legend, names, ancient, animal, snake, world, creation, life|website=www.mythencyclopedia.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref> They are not seen as literal animals, but representatives from the animal kingdom.<ref name=":1" />


Human-animal marriages specifically are a theme in many mythological stories. In the more recent European context, stories are far more likely to relate to humans turning into animals as a form of [[humiliation]] and setting what has been done right becomes a protagonist burden. In other, older tribal contexts, a noted fluidity exists, such as animals switching forms at will into humans. The more recent, European folktales generally refrain from depicting the human and animal couplings in that fashion. Particularly, the marriages do not involve sexual relations between the human and animal partners. The philosophical [[hierarchy]] of humanity above regular animal life is directly implied. The rise of modern civilization and the spread of rationalist thinking, in folktale storytelling terms, mean not just more defined lines between people and regular animals but also an increased sense of detachment and disenchantment: humans as more alien from nature.<ref name="Germany"/>
According to [[Bernard Sergent]], "human–animal marriage is an union that is too remote as incest is a too close one. Compared to a balanced marriage, between humans but from another clan or another village, that is to say–depending on the society–within the framework of a well measured [[endogamy]] or [[exogamy]], incest transgresses the norm because it is an exaggerated endogamy, and animal marriage transgresses it because it is an exaggerated exogamy."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sergent|first=Bernard|date=1999|title=Un mythe lithuano-amérindien|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/dha_0755-7256_1999_num_25_2_1536|journal=Dialogues d'histoire ancienne|volume=25|issue=2|page=36|doi=10.3406/dha.1999.1536|via=}}</ref>
 
== Animal–human marriage in reality==
Although it is uncertain if there is a legal basis for marrying an animal, several individuals claim to have done so. The [[Sudanese goat marriage incident]] made big headlines in 2006 when a man was forced to marry a goat after being caught in a sexual interaction with the goat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1550479/Man-marries-goat-captivates-millions.html|title='Man marries goat' captivates millions|last=Staff|first=By Our Foreign|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-11|language=en}}</ref> Other reports of marriage include animals such as dogs, cats, frogs and a dolphin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3004930.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} South Asia {{!}} Girl weds dog to break 'evil spell'|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/11/13/man-in-india-marries-dog-to-atone-for-stoning-to-death-mating-canines.html|title=Man in India Marries Dog to Atone for Stoning to Death Mating Canines|date=2007-11-13|work=Fox News|access-date=2017-03-11|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8658327.stm|title=BBC News - German man 'marries' his dying cat|website=news.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4290761/Seven-year-old-Indian-girls-marry-frogs.html|title=Seven-year-old Indian girls 'marry' frogs|last=Delhi|first=By Dean Nelson in|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-11|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/01/03/british-woman-marries-dolphin.html|title=British Woman Marries Dolphin|date=2006-01-03|work=Fox News|access-date=2017-03-11|language=en-US}}</ref> Other incidents of human animal relations took place in 2010, when 18-year-old Balinese man Ngurah Alit was found having sexual intercourse with a cow butt, who he claimed flirted with him.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news|url=http://jakartaglobe.id/archive/bali-teenager-passes-out-marrying-cow-he-had-sex-with/|title=Bali Teenager Passes Out Marrying Cow He Had Sex With {{!}} Jakarta Globe|work=Jakarta Globe|access-date=2017-03-11|language=en-US}}</ref> As part of a Pecaruan ritual, the man was forced to marry the animal.<ref name=":02" /> The ceremony was thought to cleanse the village of the immoral act of [[bestiality]].<ref name=":02" /> The cow was drowned in the ocean, while Alit was symbolically drowned as well.<ref name=":02" />


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Choupette]]
* [[Human bonding]]
* [[Human bonding]]
* [[Human-animal hybrid]]
* [[Speciesism]]
* [[Speciesism]]
* [[Anthrozoology]]
* [[Anthrozoology]]
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Types of marriages|state=autocollapse}}
{{zoophilia}}
{{zoophilia}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Human-Animal Marriage}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Human-Animal Marriage}}
[[Category:Anthrozoology|Marriage]]
[[Category:Animals and humans|Marriage]]
[[Category:Anthropology]]
[[Category:Animal law]]
[[Category:Types of marriage]]
[[Category:Marriage]]
 
{{ethics-stub}}
{{animal-rights-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:31, 2 April 2023

Human–animal marriage is a marriage between a (non-human) animal and a human. This topic has appeared in mythology and magical fiction.[1] In the 21st century there have been numerous reports from around the world of humans marrying their pets and other animals. Human–animal marriage is often seen in accordance with zoophilia, although they are not necessarily linked. Although animal-human marriage is not mentioned specifically in national laws, the act of engaging in sexual acts with an animal is illegal in many countries under animal abuse laws.

Animal–human marriage in mythology

The practice of animal-human marriage has made appearances in several mythological stories and folklore, and is often understood to mean a deity-human marriage involving gods or heroes.[2] The Chinese folktale "The Goddess of the Silkworm" is an example of a tale where a woman marries a horse.[2] A similar Irish legend tells of a king who marries a horse, symbolizing a divine union between the king and the goddess of the land.[3] Also the indigenous Cheyenne have a story of animal-human marriage in "The Girl who Married a Dog".[4] In addition, there are many Native American stories about people who married animals. In these Native American myths, animal spirits frequently assume human form.[5] They are not seen as literal animals, but representatives from the animal kingdom.[5]

According to Bernard Sergent, "human–animal marriage is an union that is too remote as incest is a too close one. Compared to a balanced marriage, between humans but from another clan or another village, that is to say–depending on the society–within the framework of a well measured endogamy or exogamy, incest transgresses the norm because it is an exaggerated endogamy, and animal marriage transgresses it because it is an exaggerated exogamy."[6]

Animal–human marriage in reality

Although it is uncertain if there is a legal basis for marrying an animal, several individuals claim to have done so. The Sudanese goat marriage incident made big headlines in 2006 when a man was forced to marry a goat after being caught in a sexual interaction with the goat.[7] Other reports of marriage include animals such as dogs, cats, frogs and a dolphin.[8][9][10][11][12] Other incidents of human animal relations took place in 2010, when 18-year-old Balinese man Ngurah Alit was found having sexual intercourse with a cow butt, who he claimed flirted with him.[13] As part of a Pecaruan ritual, the man was forced to marry the animal.[13] The ceremony was thought to cleanse the village of the immoral act of bestiality.[13] The cow was drowned in the ocean, while Alit was symbolically drowned as well.[13]

See also

References

  1. Naithani, Sadhana (2014). Folklore Theory in Postwar Germany. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 48–52. ISBN 9781617039942.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Miller, Alan L. (1995-01-01). "The Woman Who Married a Horse: Five Ways of Looking at a Chinese Folktale". Asian Folklore Studies. 54 (2): 275–305. doi:10.2307/1178945. JSTOR 1178945.
  3. Freeman, Philip (2004-03-17). St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743267496.
  4. Stensland, Anna Lee (1977-01-01). "The Indian Presence in American Literature". The English Journal. 66 (3): 37–41. doi:10.2307/815804. JSTOR 815804.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Native American Mythology – Myth Encyclopedia – god, story, legend, names, ancient, animal, snake, world, creation, life". www.mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  6. Sergent, Bernard (1999). "Un mythe lithuano-amérindien". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne. 25 (2): 36. doi:10.3406/dha.1999.1536.
  7. Staff, By Our Foreign. "'Man marries goat' captivates millions". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  8. "BBC NEWS | South Asia | Girl weds dog to break 'evil spell'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  9. "Man in India Marries Dog to Atone for Stoning to Death Mating Canines". Fox News. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  10. "BBC News - German man 'marries' his dying cat". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  11. Delhi, By Dean Nelson in. "Seven-year-old Indian girls 'marry' frogs". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  12. "British Woman Marries Dolphin". Fox News. 2006-01-03. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "Bali Teenager Passes Out Marrying Cow He Had Sex With | Jakarta Globe". Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 2017-03-11.