Bedschaften

Bedschaften is a term that historically referred to a dowry or bride price in some European cultures. It was a transfer of wealth or property from either the bride's family to the groom's family, or vice versa, upon the occasion of a marriage. The specific customs and amounts varied significantly depending on the region, social class, and the historical period.

In some contexts, the bedschaf contained movable goods like linens, furniture, and clothing. In others, it might have included land or livestock. The purpose of the bedschaf was often to provide the new couple with a start in life, or to compensate the groom's family for taking on the bride's upkeep and support. Conversely, a bride price might have been seen as compensation to the bride's family for the loss of her labor.

The practice of bedschafen has largely fallen out of use in modern Western societies, replaced by different societal norms and legal frameworks surrounding marriage and property. However, vestiges of similar traditions can still be found in some parts of the world under different names, reflecting the enduring concept of family contributions to a new union. The term itself is now primarily of historical interest, found in legal and historical texts.