... children. Getting married and having children strengthened the family's honor and increased its capability of contributing to the state. Because of this purpose, young people could not marry until they reached puberty; yet, couples could be engaged earlier. After the agreement to engagement by the father, there was usually a party that was called sposalia. It was a tradition for the bride to receive a piece of jewelry from the groom such as a ring. Before a Roman bride could properly prepare for her life as a wife and a mother, she had to give up her childhood. She would first surrender. The night before a girl's wedding she would surrender all of her childhood toys, her toga praetexta, as well as her bulla.2 For the wedding ceremony, the bride would have a hairstyle that was unique to brides-tumulus. It was divided into six locks and was secured ...

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