This is the first of two brief postings on the subject of wedding documents.  Marriages in Polizzi Generosa, indeed in all of Italy, were and are accompanied by all sorts of documents:  Not only marriage registrations, but also solemn promises of marriages, and marriage banns, not to mention many additional documents that often had to be filed. Here are just a few of the terms you will find in these documents, or in other documents referring to married people:

• Marito = husband
• Moglie = wife
• sposo/a = spouse
• Celibe = never married male
• Nubile = never married female
• Vedovo/vedova = widower/widow

Interior of Chiesa di Sant'Orsola (the Church of Saint Ursula) in Polizzi Generosa.