892 Marriages Concluded in Banja Luka, Oldest Groom Was 85 Years Old

(Patria) - In the city on the Vrbas River, 892 marriages were concluded last year, and the oldest groom who tied the knot was as old as 85.

This is shown by data from the Banja Luka City Administration, and as they stated for "Nezavisne novine" from the General Administration Department, there were no cancellations of wedding appointments, only postponements.

"The oldest groom was born in 1940, and the youngest in 2007. The oldest bride was born in 1953, and the youngest in 2007," they stated for "Nezavisne novine".

Among the numerous weddings that took place during the past year, one attracted particular attention, where the groom wrote - astronaut in the "occupation" field.

This is the groom Savo Babić, who, without much thought, decided to enter that occupation.

"I asked the registrar if I could write anything. They said I could, and astronaut was the first thing that came to mind," Babić told "Nezavisne novine".

Thus, this "space pioneer" landed right at the altar, where his chosen one, pediatric nurse Mirela Galić, was waiting for him.

Incidentally, when it comes to the letter of the law, a marriage is concluded between two persons of the opposite sex with the consent of freely expressed will before the competent body of the local self-government unit.

"The registrar, based on the application of persons wishing to marry and the submitted documents, will, if necessary and in another way, verify whether the conditions for the conclusion and validity of the marriage have been met," the law states.

As added, if it is determined that the conditions for the conclusion and validity of the marriage have not been met, the registrar will verbally inform the applicants that they cannot conclude a marriage and will make an official note about it.

Also, the law states that a person who has not reached the age of 18 cannot conclude a marriage.

"For justified reasons, the court may, in non-contentious proceedings, allow a minor over 16 years of age to conclude a marriage, if it determines that the person is physically and mentally capable of exercising the rights and duties arising from the marriage," the law states.

Vasić: Marriage is not disappearing, but transforming

Vladimir Vasić, a sociologist, points out in an interview with "Nezavisne novine" that these numbers show that, despite economic insecurity, migration, and demographic decline, the institution of marriage continues to survive as an important form of emotional and social security.

"It is particularly indicative that we have both very young and very old newlyweds, which indicates a polarization of life strategies; some enter marriage early, seeking stability, while others formalize partnerships in later years that often arose from the need for closeness and support," he says.

As he adds, from a sociological perspective, this is a reflection of a society in transition, in which traditional values clash with modern life circumstances.

"Marriage is not disappearing - it is transforming, adapting to new economic and cultural realities," Vasić concludes.