The German word Heirat (“marriage”) is in part used synonymously with Eheschließung (“nuptials”; Marriage, contraction of) and Hochzeit (“wedding”). Under Heirat many earlier encyclopedias merely provide references to these parallel terms [2]. At the same time, though, Heirat is also a broader term for both Ehe (“marriage”; French mariage, Italian matrimonio) and Hochzeit (“wedding”; French les noces, Italian nozze). Etymologically the German word Heirat is cognat…