courtship rituals
Prelude to pairing
Courtship rituals are the behaviors animals or humans perform to attract mates and establish pair bonds.
In animals, these may include elaborate displays, dances, or gift-giving: The peacock's tail spread is part of its courtship ritual.
Among humans, the phrase describes dating customs and romantic gestures that precede commitment: Texting has become part of modern courtship rituals.
The term often carries a slightly clinical or anthropological tone.
- arranged marriagesUnions planned by families
- asking permissionSeeking consent beforehand
- emotional bondingForming affective connections
- scent trailsAromatic navigation routes
- bowerLeafy garden shelter
serenades · plumage · mating displays · mating dance · synchronized movements · courtly love · love letters · betrothal · dowry · marriage proposal · nesting sites · bird song · flirting · love at first sight · first date · mimicry · sexual selection · matchmaking
- cultural traditionsflamenco, tango, kabuki, hula, capoeira
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- courtshipsuitor, betrothal, wooing, dating, second date
- customscustoms, customs clearance, wedding custom, customs declaration, burial custom
- folk customsfolk dances, folk customs, burial rite, folk costumes, folk traditions
courtship ritualsdivorce proceedings
Legal process ending marriage
dumping · ghosting · the talk · uncoupling · rejection
courtship ritualsone-night stand
Casual sexual encounter
friends with benefits · booty call · no-strings-attached · situationship
courtship ritualsavoidance behavior
Steering clear of stressors
cold shoulder · social distancing · brush-off · stonewalling · celibacy