Human–animal marriage
Human-animal marriage, i.e., marriage between humans and non-human animals, is not recognized by any modern country, but throughout history people have sought ways to commit to an animal they loved in this way, often involving ceremonies which, whilst not legally binding, carry great personal significance. Such marriages as are allowed by tradition, or within a culture, are often symbolic or ritual, rather than the more usual recognition of an enduring and full relationship.
Despite this, there are numerous cases of people seeking to marry animals they loved, from the Roman Emperor Caligula often said to have both married his horse Incitatus and appointed it to the Senate, through to the 2005 case of a woman who married a dolphin, and a 2006 case of a Sudanese man who was ruled to be obligated to pay dowry and marry a goat following sexual activity with it. In addition there is significant folklore and myth on the subject. It is possible that some less well known religions, or older traditions, may indeed permit such marriages.
Law
No present-day National jurisdiction is known to allow marriage between humans and non-humans. They are not legally recognized and purported marriage ceremonies usually have no legislative validity.
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Folklore, myth, and popular culture
- A Korean folktale, sometimes known as The Silkworm, tells how silk originated following the King's daughter spiritually marrying a horse, in completion of a promise made in times of trouble. In the tale, the princess was reborn as a silkworm, a creature whose appearance and mannerisms superficially were said to resemble that of a horse. (From Chonsol Ttara Samch'olli, retold by Heinz Insu Fenkl) [1] [2]
- A Cheyenne myth "The Girl who married a Dog", states that the group of seven stars known as the Pleiades originated from seven puppies which a Cheyenne chief's daughter gave birth to after mysteriously being visited by a dog in human form to whom she vowed "Wherever you go, I go". [3] [4]
- In the last episode of the sitcom Punky Brewster, Brandon marries a dog named Brenda. [5]
- The Cree people of Waskaganish Canada tell the tale of "The Girl and the Dog", in which a girl living alone is visited by a talking dog who she jestingly agrees to marry. The dog hunted for her and she had a hybrid offspring. Finally the woman had human visitors, and resolved to marry one of them, and was killed by the dog in her sleep, out of jealousy. [6] (told by John Blackned)
- One Inuit origin-myth states that the human races originated from the offspring of a girl who married a dog. [7]
