A wedding is a significant event due to which lovers become one family. But the path to it is sometimes very long and thorny, and not everyone is able to overcome it. After all, it happens that a person is looking for his soul mate, but she never appears on the horizon. And, it would seem, there is no hope anymore, but the matchmaker comes to the rescue.
Well, let's talk about who the matchmaker is. Is this a profession or a position? Or maybe it's a vocation at all? We will understand what is the responsibility of this person, and what should be expected from her.
Who is the matchmaker?
Let's start with the simplest - interpretation. It should be noted that the meaning of the word matchmaker is very vague. In the sense that you can find a number of differences in the modern matchmaker in comparison with its ancient counterpart. And yet, both the first and second are engaged in pairing. Pimping? Not at all!
The matchmaker is a marriage diplomat who negotiates between two families. Her responsibilities include selecting the most successful candidates capable of building a strong alliance. Moreover, love is not always the primary criterion.
Matchmakers in Russia
In Russia there was a period when parents kept their daughters under strict supervision. This was especially true of representatives of noble families, as well as beautiful girls. The guys simply could not get to them on their own, so they needed outside help. The role of the delegate fell on the shoulders of the matchmaker.
Most often, this was a woman from the same city or village, whose reputation and ability to speak were at the highest level. It was a free matchmaker, at least her services did not have a fixed price. And yet, for a successful matchmaking, small presents were often presented to her.
Over the years, parental control did not become so severe, and young people could build relationships on their own. But the services of matchmakers were still popular, moreover, over time, they grew into the category of traditions. And today a rare wedding takes place without the participation of a matchmaker.
What are the responsibilities of a matchmaker?
The first step of the matchmaker is the mediator between the two families. On this occasion, there is even a saying: "We have a product, and you have a merchant." In part, the matchmaking process itself is reminiscent of bidding, which determined the value of partners.
The matchmaker was supposed to advertise, for example, the groom. Show his best qualities, talk about what he managed to achieve and what will become a husband. As for the bride, here the conversation was about the size of the dowry, the ability of the young to cook, needlework, housekeeping, and so on.
In this case, the matchmaker is obliged to give accurate, reliable information, otherwise her reputation will be completely corrupted. Although sometimes one side lures it to its side, but this is, rather, an exception to the general rule, rather than a pattern.
Modern matchmaker
Progress is the key definition of the 21st century, and in order to survive at that time, you need to be able to adapt to new orders. Modern matchmakers are very different from their predecessors. And although their main task remains the selection of successful couples, the methods for achieving this have become slightly different.
Firstly, they turned from know-all grandmothers into a business woman. All services have a fixed price and are indicated in the price list so that customers can always keep track of their expenses.
Secondly, finding a matchmaker is now quite simple. Most of them work in marriage agencies, less often - do business at home. For advanced users who are eager to find a soul mate, there are special online services that also include matchmaking services.
Thirdly, thanks to the Internet, the search for a partner is not limited to a certain region. In the arsenal of held piles, there are often profiles of people from different parts of the world. So with a great desire, you can find a partner not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders.
As for whether a modern matchmaker is a profession or, rather, a vocation, it is rather difficult to give a definite answer. After all, by and large, a special education is not needed here, and yet, obviously, it will not be possible to manage without coherent knowledge of psychology and ability to speak harmoniously.