The Alemanni had strong family values and the standard relationship was male-female. Depending on the social or class level of the couple, marriages were either arranged by parent, usually for political alliances or by the couple themselves. Sometimes marriage was by capture, so to speak. A young Alemanni male raided the village where the woman of his fancy lived and carried her off to be his wife. At certain times of the year, an Alamanni maiden could with the aid of her friends and family catch the man of her desires while he was sleeping or bathing.
The common people of the tribe usually married out of love. Parents and sometimes the local druid often had a hand in arranging marriages. Courtship then was very similar to today. The couple would meet and get to know each other. Sometimes, the young Alemanni male had to perform a feat of heroism to prove his love. The maiden was expected to perform a worthy task such as sewing her own bridal gown or making a fur cloak for her future husband. When both families were satisfied that the couple was ready the marriage was completed often by a simple ceremony such as the couple jumping over a broom.
Marriages among the Alemanni nobility were mostly arranged as a political move and not often for love while the parties were still children.
Monogamous marriages were the norm among the Alemanni and often for life. It was customary for the groom to give a gift to his bride usually of money or jewels. This gift was said to be a token of respect for the bride. Most Alemanni married except for the magic makers who lived solitary lives devoted to their work. These mystics were both venerated and feared.
Children were loved and cherished. Alemanni parents tried to raise their children to be able to survive and thrive in their harsh times. Discipline was strict, but not harsh, and tempered with mercy. It was not until after the introduction of Christianity that children were thought to be born in sin and were inherently evil. Then discipline became harsh and even cruel and abusive. Nine days after a child was born, a name was given to him or her in a naming ceremony. The Alemani believed that it would take the Soul nine days to pass through the Nine Worlds of the Germanic cosmology into Midgard (Earth) to claim its new body. During those nine days, infants who deemed to be mentally and/or physically deficient were given over to Odin and Hel by being abandoned at a crossroads.
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