AisleDash

Apparently, it is tradition for children to marry once they reach puberty in the gypsy tradition, and this custom is generally tolerated in Romania. However, violence broke out between the families of a 12-year-old girl and her 14-year-old groom after he jilted her. Nobody was killed, but several were injured, one man was charged with attempted murder, and four others are still under investigation for alleged attempted murder.

Five years ago, a situation like this sparked national debate on whether forced child marriages should be allowed. The European Union criticized the practice, but now Romania has joined the EU, so we'll have to see what kind of renewed criticism the forced marriage of children draws this time.

Just take a moment and think back to yourself at 12 or 14 years old. I was still scared to hold a boy's hand (and yes, I was a late bloomer, thankyouverymuch), and I don't think most of my classmates were that much more on the ball when it came to relationships. I'm admittedly unfamiliar with the practices of gypsies in Romania, so I don't know why these practices continue, but I'm hopeful that this incident will get them to rethink their reasons for child marriages.