Off Topic — HabitableZone

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Bride, 12, Storms Out of Romania Wedding . . .
D. Spires — (archived)

Bride, 12, Storms Out of Romania Wedding

Monday, September 29, 2003

(3:07 PM ET)

By Alison Mutler

Associated Press Writer

After the ceremony, the bride stalked out and refused to look at the groom, who walked uncomfortably two steps behind. ``What marriage?'' Ana Maria said after the ceremony. Her 12 bridesmaids supported her rebellion, chanting, ``Out with Birita!'' - referring to groom Mihai Birita.

http://channels.netscape.com/fotosrch/3/20030928XVG105.jpg


Ana Maria Cioaba, 12-years old, right, youngest daughter of Romanian king of the Gypsies, King Cioaba, walks into a church with her 15-year old groom, Mihai Birita, left, during her wedding ceremony in Sibiu, 350 kilometers (195 miles) northwest of Bucharest Saturday Sept. 27, 2003. Dozens of guests, Gypsies and Romanians, left shocked and murmuring after Ana Maria Cioaba made her impromptu exit followed by her 12 bridesmaids. It was billed as Gypsy wedding of the year.

Image Credit: Vadim Ghirda -- AP

SIBIU, Romania -- AP
It was billed as the Gypsy wedding of the year. But the ceremony, launching a three-day party, got off to a bad start: The 12-year-old ``princess bride'' - daughter of a self-proclaimed king - stormed out of the church in protest in front of 400 guests.

``Leave me alone!'' Ana Maria Cioaba screamed at reporters Saturday, swearing at them as she sought shelter in a nearby house. Her bridesmaids chanted slogans against the groom.

She returned to the church minutes later and - though she would hardly look at him - was duly married off to her 15-year-old groom, a sign of the persistence of the ancient practice of child weddings in the Gypsy, or Roma, culture.

Though the legal age for marriage in Romania is 18, the country generally tolerates the Gypsy tradition of arranged child weddings. Still, some young Roma women are starting to rebel against the custom, said Gabriela Mihai, 17, a cousin of Saturday's bride.

``I don't want to marry, I am choosy and I have refused several marriage partners my parents presented to me,'' she said.
(More: Netscape Network News w/CNN)
2003 © The Associated Press.

And here I thought I had a rough life being married to a Jewish princess -- whose ancestry includes Russia, Romania and Republica de Panama. This one was raised as a genuine Gypsy princess. I do feel for young Mihai.

Anyway, an interesting example of media bias,

Dan

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