Legal Definitions - cross-marriage

Cross-marriage refers to a marital union between individuals who originate from significantly different social, cultural, ethnic, religious, or national groups. The term emphasizes the bridging of distinct societal boundaries or traditions through the marriage.

• For instance, if a citizen of Japan marries a citizen of France, their union would be considered a cross-marriage. This is because the individuals come from different national backgrounds, each with its own distinct cultural norms, legal systems, and societal traditions that are brought together within the marriage.

• Another example would be a marriage between a person raised in a Catholic family and someone from a Buddhist background. This constitutes a cross-marriage because it unites individuals from two different religious traditions, often involving distinct spiritual practices, holidays, and community expectations that must be navigated within the relationship.

• Consider a situation in a country with diverse indigenous populations, where a member of the Maasai people marries a member of the Kikuyu people. This would be a cross-marriage as it involves individuals from two distinct ethnic and cultural groups, each with unique histories, languages, and customs, even if they share the same national citizenship.